USA > Kentucky > Memorial record of western Kentucky, Volume II > Part 18
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ing away on the 2d of September, 1895, in the eighty-second year of his age.
"His life was gentle and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This was a man.'"
MERRIWETHER A. MASON.
Merriwether A. Mason was born in Christian county, Kentucky, March 1, 1853, and died March 16, 1900. He was a highly respected citizen and belonged to one of the prominent pioneer families of the county.
William B. Mason, his father, was a native of the Old Dominion, and when a small boy left his Virginia home in company with other members of the family and came to Kentucky, where he was reared and where he became a slaveholder and the owner of many broad acres, his estate including thousands of acres. In Todd county, Kentucky, he married Sarah Anderson, a native of this state, and they became the parents of three children, William B., Clinton T. and Merriwether A., all of whom are now deceased, they having passed their lives and died on their father's estate. After the death of his father, Merriwether as- sumed charge of the farming operations, and conducted the same while he lived. He was politically a Democrat, fraternally a Knight of Honor, and religiously a Baptist, giving liberal support to the church and acting as treasurer of the same.
February 28, 1878, Mr. Mason married Lulu Wills, who survives him and resides at the Mason homestead. Mrs. Mason is a native of Christian county, Kentucky, where she was born in 1859, daughter of William W. and Elizabeth ( Walkins) Wills, who were among the old
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settlers of the county, having come to Kentucky from Virginia. Mr. Wills was a farmer and owned a number of slaves. His family com- prised two sons and one daughter, Mrs. Mason. The latter was edu- cated at. Hopkinsville College, of which institution she is a graduate. Since her husband's death she has had the supervision of the affairs of the estate and farming operations, owning no less than one thousand five hundred acres. She has two sons and three daughters, namely : Sarah, wife of C. M. Berry; Merriwether; Elizabeth, wife of Harry W. Watts, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and Lottie and Brookman, at home.
JOHN H. TORIAN.
John H. Torian is one of the enterprising and respected residents . of Graves county, and has lived on the old farm in this county for nearly half a century. He has overstepped the three score and ten mark by several years, and still retains some of the freshness and vigor of his carlier manhood, when he could have vied with anyone in feats of en- durance and hard work. Diligent labor has been the keynote of his en- tire life, and he has never tried to win surcease from toil as a goal of happiness, for work has been second nature with him, and therein has constituted his happiness. He has lived the life of an intelligent, up- right and esteemed citizen, and in whatever relation he has touched so- ciety has done his duty and shared in the obligations which fall to all true citizens.
Mr. Torian is a member of an old Virginia family, but his earliest ancestors were Irish. His grandfather, Andrew Torian, was a native of the Old Dominion, and from there went for service in the Revolution-
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ary war, so that his descendants are entitled to membership in the order of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. Torian's father was also named Andrew, and was born in Halifax county, Vir- ginia, where he made his home until grown, and he then removed to Christian county, Kentucky, and in 1865 came to Graves county, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1883 at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was a Democrat, and his religion was that of the Missionary Baptist church. His wife was Bettie ( Finch) Torian, also a native of Halifax county, Virginia, and of English descent, and she survived her husband and passed away at the age of eighty-five. The following children were born to them: John H .; James T., also mentioned below; Andrew, deceased; Sarah; Martha, deceased; Bet- tie, deceased; Catherine; Millie; Nancy, deceased; and Mary.
John H. Torian was born in Halifax county, Virginia, January 8, 1826, but was reared in Christian county, Kentucky. He came to Graves county in 1858 with his brother Jamies, and they purchased two hundred and twenty acres of land and engaged in farming. This tract was the nucleus of the estate which has since been built up by the brothers. It has been a rather unusual characteristic of this family that they have always " hung together " harmoniously and with co-operative effort working out the problem of life, and herein lies the secret of their suc- cess. In 1882 Mr. Torian and his brother built a flour and sawmill, and continued its successful operation for sixteen years. Mr. Torian now owns two hundred and thirty acres three miles from Mayfiekl on the Sedalia road. He has never married, and has always remained with his brothers and sisters on their property, where they have one of the most pleasant homes in the vicinity. Mr. Torian has always given his support to the Democratic candidates, and he and the rest of the
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family are all members of the Baptist church. His brother James T., who always worked with him, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, January 22, 1832, and in 1875 married Miss Ellen Grant. He is now cleceased.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER BOYD, M. D.
William Alexander Boyd, M. D., one of the successful physicians of Graves county residing at Mayfield, was born on a farm in Halifax county, Virginia, July 7, 1831, and is a son of John and Mary ( Pur- year) Boyd, both natives of the same county. The paternal grand- father was also a native of Virginia, and the family originated in Eng- land. He lived and died in Halifax county, and was a farmer by oc- cupation.
The parents of our subject reared eight children to maturity, seven sons and one daughter, of whom six are now living. Mr. Boyd was five years of age when he was brought by his parents to Graves county, and spent the greater portion of his young days upon the farm. His literary training was received in Mayfield and Clinton, Kentucky, and he was graduated March 1, 1853, from the old Louisville University in medicine. Immediately thereafter he began the practice of his pro- fession at Farmington where he remained six years, and then located upon a farm east of Mayfield and carried on his practice and conducted his farm, meeting with success in both lines. In 1864 he located in Mayfield, and has made that city his home ever since, being now recog- nized as one of the leaders in his profession in that locality. Dr. Boyd is a member of the West Kentucky Medical and Graves County Medical societies; a member of the Masonic order, with which he has
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been connected since 1861. In his religious faith he is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, while his political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
In 1857 Dr. Boyd was married to Miss Mary Holifield, a daughter, of Little Berry Holifield, a prominent merchant of Mayfield. She was born and reared in Mayfield, and has borne her husband seven daugh- ters and one son, all living. Dr. Boyd and his wife are very well known in the community in which they make their home, and are important factors in the social life of Mayfield.
WALTER W. MORRIS.
The extensive business interests of Fulton place Mr. Morris among the leaders in industrial circles, and he has achieved that success which comes as the result of enterprise and straightforward methods. He was born in Obion county, Tennessee, on the roth of November, 1856, a son of G. Woodson and Willie F. (Lightner) Morris, both natives of Virginia. The father, who followed the tilling of the soil as a life occu- pation, passed away in death in Obion county in 1879, when sixty-five years of age, and the mother survived until 1896, her death occurring at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of four chil- dren, of whom but two are now living-our subject and his sister.
Walter W. Morris spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon a farm, his education being received in the common schools of the neigh- borhood. When twenty years of age he took charge of his father's homestead, having ever since been engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing. He is the owner of eight hundred acres, the most of which is under a fine state of cultivation, and in addition he is also engaged in
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the raising of tobacco. Since 1885 Mr. Morris has maintained his residence in Fulton, where he has since been largely connected with banking interests, having served as the first president of the First Na- tional Bank of Fulton, continuing in that position for three years, and since that time has served the same institution in the capacity of vice- president.
The marriage of Mr. Morris was celebrated on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1885, when Miss Florence Martin became his wife, she being a native of Weakley county, Tennessee, and four children were born to brighten and bless their home, but two are now deceased. In his politi- cal affiliations Mr. Morris is a Democrat, and was a member of the sixteenth district committee for Tennessee. In South Fulton he has served as an alderman. Religiously he is a member of the Christian church.
WILLIAM F. HOUSMAN.
William F. Housman, deceased, who was one of the prosperous men of Mayfield, Graves county, Kentucky, was a son of David and Eliza E. (Brookshire) Housman, and was born in Graves county, June 9. 1850. Ilis paternal grandfather was John Housman, while his ma- ternal grandfather was Henry Brookshire, and the latter lived to be ninety-six years of age. The parents of our subject had children born to them as follows: John H., deceased; William F .; Francis M .; Sarah C .; Thomas B .; Jesse B .; Charlton P.
William F. Housman was reared and educated in Graves county, and was educated in the public schools of that period. In 1891 he was honored by election to the office of sheriff of Graves county, and filled
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that office very satisfactorily for four years, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. His membership in the Missionary Baptist church was a source of great comfort to him, and he died firm in its faith, February 21, 1899, and was tenderly laid to rest on the old homestead. For a number of years he was a successful farmer, and when he died he left his wife and children in good circumstances.
In Graves county, June 9, 1873, he was united in marriage with the estimable Miss Mary J. Sneed, who was born in Robinson county, Ten- nessee, February 13, 1850, and came to Graves county, Kentucky, in December, 1860. The following children were born of this happy union, namely : Henry II., April 5, 1875; 1.ena M., February 2, 1877; Fannie, October 10, 1878; Hardee, March 19, 1881; Harry M., January 6, 1885; Vera, March 5, 1887; Ruby, April 9, 1889; Gladys, born December 26, 1892, died March 5, 1899; Lucille, November 18, 1895. The family still reside on the old homestead, near the town of May- field, where they have a beautiful home. The memory of the good hus- band and father is tenderly cherished, while throughout the commun- ity in which he lived Mr. Housman is remembered as a good business man, kind neighbor and friend and Christian worker.
THOMAS N. SMITH.
Thomas N. Smith is known as a man of high attainments and prac- tical ability as a lawyer, and as one who has achieved success in his profession. He was born on a farm near Fulton on the 15th of October, 1867, being a son of Robert E. and Mollie (Norman) Smith, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Fulton county, Ken- tucky. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Smith, was
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a Methodist minister and was a presiding elder of a district now com- prised in the Memphis conference of the denomination. He died in Graves county, Kentucky, many years ago. In this commonwealth the parents of our subject were married, thereafter taking up their abode on a farm near this city. To them were born two sons, the younger being P. 1I. Smith, a farmer of Fulton county. The father was called from this earth when our subject was a small boy, and the mother now makes her home with her younger son, having now passed the sixty- fifth milestone on the journey of life. She is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, as was also her honored husband.
Thomas N. Smith was early inured to the labors of the farm, and to the public schools of Fulton he is indebted for the educational privi- leges which he received in his youth. When about twenty-two years of age he began the study of law under the preceptorship of the late Judge S. A. D. Steele, of Fulton, and was admitted to the bar in Feb- ruary, 1892, since which time his name has been enrolled as a legal practitioner of Fulton. He is a member of the law firm of Shelbourne, Kane & Smith, of this city, all of whom are men of ability, and the firm is winning success in the field of law. Mr. Smith is an active worker in the ranks of the Democracy, although he has never sought political preferment.
In 1899 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mrs. Sallie E. House, nee Browder. In his fraternal relations he is a member of Roberts Lodge No. 172, F. &. A. M., of Fulton; of Jerre Moss Chapter No. 119, R. A. M., of this city; and of Fulton City Council No. 63, R. & S. M. He is a past master of the blue lodge, high priest of the chapter and deputy illustrious master of the council.
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JAMES HESTER HAPPY.
James H. Happy, the postmaster of Mayfield, is a native son of this city, where his birth occurred on the 8th of November, 1849, his parents being James B. and Nannie H. (Brame) Happy. The father was born near Lexington, Kentucky, but when eight years of age accompanied his mother and stepfather on their removal to Graves county, Ken- tucky. His own father, James Happy, is thought to have been an Englishman. In this county James B. grew to mature years and learned the saddler's trade, which he followed in Mayfield for several years and then for a time was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He next embarked in the drug business in Mayfield, being thus engaged during the period of the Civil war. Being a strong Union man, he volunteered in its service, but was rejected on account of ill health, and on the 24th of February, 1864, because of his Union sympathy, he was killed by guerrillas. In an early day he was an old-time Whig, later giving his political support to the Republican party, and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. He had passed the forty-seventh milestone at the time of his death, and his widow survived him about fifteen years, passing away at the age of sixty-two years. Mr. Happy had been twice married, his first wife being a Miss Baxter, by whom he had a daughter, who died recently. By his second marriage he became the father of four sons and a daughter, namely : James H., whose name introduces this review; Adelia, deceased in early womanhood; Robert D., of Mayfield; John T., a resident of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and Orlando B., the assistant postmaster at Mayfield.
James Hester Happy was reared and educated in Mayfield, the city
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of his nativity. After his father's death his mother took charge of the drug store, and there James spent four years, while for the following six years he was engaged in the dry goods business, and for ten years was a traveling shoe salesman. On the expiration of that period he again entered the dry goods business in Mayfield, thus continuing until 1896, when he sold his store, as he had been appointed warden of the Kentucky state prison at Eddyville, a position he retained until August, 1898. For the third time he entered the dry goods business in May- field which he continued until May, 1902, when he entered upon his duties as postmaster of this city.
On the Ist of December, 1887, Mr. Happy was united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Kendall, of Savannah, Tennessee, and they have five children-Marion II., Leona B., James B., John Kendall and Samuel Roberts. Mr. Happy is a stanch and active Republican, has served as chairman of the county and district committees, also as a member of the state central committee and as a delegate to two national Repub- lican conventions, in 1880 and in 1896. In the first he was one of the three hundred and six delegates who cast ballots for the nomination of General Grant. Both Mr. and Mrs. Happy are members of the Christian church.
BENJAMIN N. PULLEN.
Benjamin N. Pullen, who combines the occupations of farming and blacksmithing at Farmington, Graves county, has been a resident of this state for forty-five years, in which time he became so thoroughly identified with its life and progress that he is an out and out Ken- tuckian, as much so as any native of the state. He is a veteran of the
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Civil war, and as a farmer and business man has made a reputation for absolute integrity and reliability. He is an artist at his trade, and many of his patrons could not be persuaded to take their work to any other blacksmith, for they have depended upon his skill for years and have always found him satisfactory and obliging.
Mr. Pullen is of Irish descent on the paternal side, and his grand- father, Archibald Pullen, was closely connected with the original stock although he was born in Virginia. William C. and Nancy A. ( Hall) Pullen, the parents of Benjamin Pullen, were both born in Tennessee, the former in Davidson county and the latter in Dixon county. They both lived long and useful lives, and resided in Graves county, Ken- tucky, during the latter part of their lives. William Pullen died in 1892, at the age of eighty-one, and his wife in 1901, aged eighty-five. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: William J .; Mary A .; Elmeta, deceased; Marshall, who was killed in the Civil war; Ben- jamin N .; George; James D .; Sophia; Josephine; and one that died in infancy.
Benjamin N. Pullen was born in Humphreys county, Tennessee, January 13, 1844, and was educated in the schools of that state and of Kentucky. He came to Graves county, Kentucky, with his parents, at the age of fourteen, and this has been his home ever since. He en- listed in Company B, Second Kentucky Cavalry, being still a boy at the time. He was taken prisoner by the Union forces at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and was held captive at Rock Island, Illinois, for eighteen months. Ile was then exchanged and paroled for sixty days, but before this time.was up the war was over. He returned home and was soon directing the spirit of war to the peaceful trade which he had learned before going to the front. He has had his shop at Farmington
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ever since the war, and in addition to this pursuit tends a farm of sev- enty acres situated near town. He enjoys a fair share of worldly pros- perity, and leads a contented life and has a happy home.
He affiliates with the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the Primitive Baptist church. In 1866 he married Miss Cor- nelia L. Williams, who was born and educated in Calloway county, Kentucky. The following children make up their family, and those living have already taken up or are preparing to assume the duties of life: Ernest E., Alice P., Leonard G., Edgar L., William A., de- ceased, James D., Ethel May, Myrtle, deceased, Benjamin L. and Sallie.
WILL J. WEBB.
A prominent representative of the bar of Graves county is Will J. Webb. He was born on a farm in this county on the 17th of April, 1866, being a son of Joseph G. and Mary J. (Dunbar) Webb, both natives of Tennessee. The father, who was born on the 4th of Decem- ber, 1825, came to Graves county, Kentucky, in 1848, and for many years was a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The mother was born in March, 1831, and was but three years of age when brought to this county by her parents in 1834. She is a daughter of James Dunbar, a farmer and pioneer of Graves county, where his death occurred in 1878. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Webb were ten children, seven of whom are still living, and the parents still make their home in Graves county, residing one mile north of Mayfield.
Will J. Webb was reared to the life of a farmer boy and his literary education was obtained in the schools of Mayfield. Deciding to become
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a member of the legal profession, he entered the law department of the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, and in 1886 was admitted to the bar. For two years, from 1889 to 1891, he served as the city attorney, having been elected to that position on the Demo- cratic ticket, of which he is a stalwart supporter. From the beginning of his career as a legal practitioner his efforts have been attended with success, and so strong are his arguments that his opponents find them difficult to overthrow.
In 1891 Mr. Webb was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Burnett, of Graves county, and their children are as follows: Lottie Simpson, Will J., Jr., Mary Burnett and James T. Mr. Webb is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
THOMAS HOLLOWAY.
Numbered among the representative agriculturists of Graves county is Thomas Holloway, who is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of the Bluegrass state, for here his ma- ternal grandfather, John Pinckley, was born in Boone county. He was born in Carroll county, Tennessee, on the 28th of May, 1848, and is a son of John C. and Sevilla ( Pinckley) Holloway, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Carroll county, Tennessee. On the paternal side he is of Irish descent. The children born to John C. and Sevilla Holloway were as follows: Martha J., deceased; one who died in infancy; Thomas A .; Nancy C., deceased; and another who died in infancy.
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Thomas A. Holloway was taken by his parents from Tennessee to Arkansas when two and a half years of age, remaining in the last named commonwealth until he was nine years of age. He then re- turned to his native state of Tennessee, where he continued to make his home until the outbreak of the Civil war, coming thence to Ken- tucky. In June, 1863, he enlisted for service in the Federal army, in which he served continuously until February, 1865. He was under General Grant in the west, and participated in the battles of Beaver Dam, Johnsonville and was in the reserve at Nashville. On coming to this state, Mr. Holloway took up his abode in Fulton county, but later removed to Hickman county, and in 1898 located near the village of Sedalia in Graves county. Throughout his entire business career he has followed agricultural pursuits, and he is now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres, all of which is well improved, and he is recognized as a leader among men in his line in the county. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally is a Mason in good standing. His religious affiliations are with the Christian church.
In 1872 Mr. Holloway was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Milam, who was born in Carroll county, Tennessee, and was there edu- cated. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holloway, namely : Sevilla and Tabitha, both deceased, Ida R., Willie J., one who died in infancy, Sidney C., Lizzie B., Charles E., Ova and Herbert M. Mr. Holloway is highly esteemed by all who know him, and his success has been gained through untiring efforts, good management and strict economy.
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JOAB PAYNE.
Joab Payne, a native Kentuckian and one of the best known resi- dents of Graves county, is now a prosperous tobacco-raiser near May- field, but, before this position of comfortable material circumstances and esteem among his fellow citizens was attained, there were many degrees and progressive steps accomplished by hard labor, unflagging energy and business ability. Mr. Payne is a good sample of the self-made man. Endowed at the beginning with little education, and no opportunity to obtain one except during spare moments between periods of hard labor from the time he was a boy, he has made his way over and through obstacles, learning by experience and hard knocks, and is to-day one of the most respected and worthy citizens of western Kentucky. He has endured what seems more than the usual lot of man in the way of trials and sufferings and losses, but has persevered to the end and has reason to be content with his present surroundings.
Mr. Payne's father died soon after the birth of his son, and his mother, Mrs. Phoebe ( Payne) Payne, a daughter of John and Fannie (Thomason) Payne, natives of Virginia, died January 9, 1903, when seventy-three years of age, and was the mother of two children, Mar- garet, who married Upton Crooks, and died at the age of forty-four, and Joab.
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