USA > Kentucky > Memorial record of western Kentucky, Volume II > Part 20
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Edward Thomas Bullock was born in Hickman, Kentucky, Septem- ber 13, 1847, and studied law under L. D. Husbands, of Paducah. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and for the following five years prac- ticed at Paducah, since which time he has followed his profession in Hickman county. Ilis political support is given to the Democratic party,
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and religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1872 Mr. Bullock was united in marriage to Miss Bettie Pettit, of Princeton, Kentucky, and she bore him one son, E. T., Jr., a steamboat engineer. Mrs. Bullock died in 1875, and he was afterward married to Mrs. Della Reid, nec Cobb, by whom he has one child, Della.
BEAUREGARD R. MERRITT, M. D.
Beauregard R. Merritt, M. D., a prominent citizen and physician of Fancy Farm, Graves county, Kentucky, was born in this county April 24, 1870, and is a son of Daniel R. and Sophia C. Briggs Merritt. His father was born in Todd county, Kentucky, while his mother was born in Graves county, Kentucky. The paternal grandfather was Daniel Merritt, and the maternal grandfather was James Briggs. Dr. Merritt knows very little of his ancestral history. His father has made his home in Graves county for the past forty years, and is now president of the Bank of Exchange at Mayfield and is a strong Democrat in poli- tics. For many years he was a consistent member of the Christian church and holds steadfastly to that faith now. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, about 1862, as a private, and was soon promoted to the position of sergeant, which he held until the close of the war. His wife is also living, and is fifty-three years of age. Eight children were born to them, namely: Beauregard R .; James, de- ceased; Nannie, deceased; Ellen M .; Arlando M .; William E., who is also a physician and in partnership with our subject; Butler, de- ceased; Ivan.
Dr. Merritt was reared and educated in Graves county, and then went to West Kentucky College; later to the Northern Indiana Normal
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School, from which he was graduated. He then attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis. His next instruction was received in the Marion Sims College of Medicine at St. Louis, from which he was also graduated. He still later attended the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky. Returning home he soon became one of the leading physicians of Graves county, and is now enjoying a large practice. He is a Democrat in politics.
On October 16, 1893, he was married to Miss Mary J. Willett, now deceased. In 1896 he married Edna E. Spalding, who was born Octo- ber 26, 1879. One child has been born to them, Mary C., on March 13, 1902. Dr. and Mrs. Merritt are very highly esteemed throughout the county, and are important factors in the social life of the city.
S. M. COOPER, M. D.
Dr. S. M. Cooper, a practicing physician of Fredonia, Kentucky, was born in Livingston county, Kentucky, November 17, 1848, a son of Andrew and a grandson of Robert Sleeper. The last named was born in South Carolina, where he was also reared, and by occupation was a farmer and also a jeweler or goldsmith. In his native state he was married. to a Miss Neal, and they became the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters-Thomas, Andrew, Eliza, Mrs. Johnson, Robert, Katherine and John, all of whom with the exception of the two eldest were born and reared in Kentucky and all are now deceased.
Andrew Cooper was born near Charleston, South Carolina, and was but four years of age when he came with his father to Livingston county, Kentucky, where he was reared and educated. Remaining at
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home until reaching mature years, he then purchased and located upon a farm of four hundred acres, which he cleared and improved, and there remained until his death, which occurred in 1864. Before removing to this farm he had married Elizabeth Gibben, a native of Hopkins county, Kentucky, born in 1803, and there she was also reared. Unto this union were born twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, namely : Marcus L., Thomas A., Sarah J., Eli G., Eliza, John, Robert, Kather- ine, Martha, Andrew, Emily and S. M., all of whom were born and reared in Livingston county, but only two are now living, Eli G. and S. M. The father was a Whig in his political affiliations, being an active worker in the party ranks, and was a member of the Presby- terian church.
S. M. Cooper was about eighteen years of age when he left home and went to school. His father had died when he was sixteen years old, and thereafter he worked during the summer months and attended school in the winters, having made his own way in the world from his sixteenth year. Completing the grammar school at the age of twenty years, he then worked for others during the following three years, after which he went to Ohio and for a similar period was a student in the Miami Medical College, graduating therein in 1873. Returning thence to Livingston county, Dr. Cooper was engaged in the practice of his profession for one year, and for the following thirteen years was a resident of Dalton, where he built up a large and lucrative practice. In 1886 he located in Fredonia, where he has ever since made his home and his practice extends over a radius of many miles.
In 1874, in Livingston county, Dr. Cooper was united in marriage to Millie Dooley, who was born and reared in that county and is a daughter of T. R. Dooley, a prominent early settler of Livingston.
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Unto this union have been born five children-E. Claude, Henry T., Frank H., Ada L. and Walter A., all of whom were born in Hopkins county, Kentucky. Dr. Cooper is a Democrat in his political affilia- tions, fraternally is a Mason and is a member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian church.
BENJAMIN B. BURCH.
Benjamin B. Burch, one of the prosperous and enterprising residents of Graves county, was born in Daviess county, Kentucky, February 21, 1875. He is a son of Charles M. and Rosa M. (Blincoe) Burch, born in Nelson and Daviess counties, Kentucky, respectively. The paternal grandfather was Samuel Burch, while the maternal grandfather was Benjamin B. Blincoe, and they were all of Scotch-Irish descent.
Charles M. Burch is a farmer of Graves county .. His political opinions make him a Democrat, while in religion he is a Catholic. Dur- ing the war between the north and the south he enlisted in the Con- federate army in the early part of 1864 and served until the close of the war. He and his wife are both living and are highly respected residents of Graves county. Twelve children were born to them, namely: Mary R .; Benjamin B .; Mabel H., deceased; Julia; Maggie W .; Susan E .; Charles R .; Henry W .; Francis C., deceased; Robert ; William; and Herman.
Benjamin Burch was reared upon his father's farm and educated in Graves county, and at the high school of Union county. His first business venture was in conducting a general merchandise business at Fancy Farm, and he met with fair success. His beginnings were with small capital, but he now owns and operates a fine drug store in the
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little village. He is a good Democrat and a member of the Catholic church.
January 17, 1899, he was married to Miss Bessie Willett, who was born in Graves county, July 7, 1877. Two children have been born to them, namely : Austin, born March 23, 1900; and Joseph N., born September 21, 1902.
THOMAS F. CURTSINGER.
Thomas F. Curtsinger, who was one of the very prosperous and representative men of Graves county, was born in Washington county, Kentucky, March 12, 1816. He was reared and educated in his native county and became a farmer. Being a quiet, retiring man, he had no eventful history, but simply did his duty as he saw it, brought up his children and was a consistent member of the Catholic church. While holding no office, he early espoused the principles of Democracy.
In Washington county, Kentucky, he was married to Miss Sarah Toon, and three children were born to them, namely: Robert, Mary Ann and John. After the death of his first wife Mr. Curtsinger mar- ried, in Graves county, Elizabeth Reily, and nine children came to bless their home, namely : James T., Julia A., Victor, Martha J., Elisha F., Melvina, Allen G., Philip W., Laura E. His second wife passed away and he was married to Elizabeth ( Willett) Hayden, a widow with two children, namely, Eugenia and Ada V. Mr. and Mrs. Curtsinger had four children, namely : James T., born November 9, 1867, and died July 10, 1886; Samuel L., born October 7, 1870; Mary G., born July 12, 1873; and Laura B., born February 3, 1876.
The death of Mr. Curtsinger occurred February 21, 1903. He left
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a widow and large family to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father, while his death is felt in the neighborhood by those who under- stood and appreciated his many virtues. When his estate was examined it was discovered that he had left ten thousand acres to be divided among his heirs as a result of patient, uncomplaining labor throughout a blameless life.
RICHARD T. LIGON.
Richard T. Ligon, one of the successful young business men of Mayfield, Graves county, Kentucky, was born in this county on the 9th of January, 1873, a son of Thomas and Ellen ( Bolinger) Ligon. Thomas Ligon was born in Summer county, Tennessee, at Harts' Ferry, near Hartsville, on the 20th of March, 1827. His parents were Thomas and Rebecca ( Puryear) Ligon, both born in North Carolina, near the Virginia state line. There they were married, later taking up their abode in middle Tennessee, and in February, 1839, came to Graves county, Kentucky, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1856 and the mother in 1868, both passing away at the age of seventy-seven years. They had nine children, of whom Thomas was the youngest in order of birth and is now the only one living. He was only twelve years of age when brought by his parents to Graves county, in which he has since made his home and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with fair success. He has always affiliated with the Democracy, and for years has been a member of the Masonic order. On the 22d of December, 1856, Mr. Ligon was united in marriage to Ellen A. Bolinger, born in Lebanon, Virginia, March 27, 1835, a daughter of George and Lucinda ( Wingo) Bolinger,
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the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. These parents came to Graves county, Kentucky, in September, 1839, when Mrs. Thomas Ligon was not yet four years of age, and here her parents spent the remainder of their days. To Mr. and Mrs .. Thomas Ligon have been born the following children: Mary Catherine (deceased ), Nancy J., George W., Lucinda Rebecca, John Graham, Richard T. and Edward B.
Richard T. Ligon was reared in Graves county and gained his edu- cation in the schools of his neighborhood. He is now living on and owns the old homestead where his birth occurred. His first business venture was farming, and in this he succeeded so well that he continued agriculture as a vocation. The old homestead consists of one hundred and eighty-eight acres, all well improved land, and the greater portion of the tract is under cultivation. In political matters Mr. Ligon affiliates with the Democratic party, but has never aspired to office. As yet he is unmarried, and is one of the popular factors in the social life of his community, where he has gained many friends and is justly regarded as a leading representative of the enterprising young agricul- turists of to-day.
MORTIMER J. L. BURCHARD.
Mortimer James Lucian Burchard, deceased, was for many years one of the leading physicians of Princeton, Kentucky. He was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1820, and his death occurred in Princeton, Kentucky, February 5, 1899. His father was also a native of Pennsylvania, where he lived and died, and was a farmer by oc- cupation.
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Mortimer J. L. Burchard was reared by his grandparents in Penn- sylvania, receiving his elementary education in the common schools of that state and was a graduate of the medical department of the Cam- bridge ( Massachusetts) University. He studied the allopathic system, but afterward became learned in homeopathy and introduced the latter system in Princeton. He was first engaged in the drug business in Hamilton, Ohio, where he remained until 1861, and in that year enlisted for service in the Civil war in the Confederate army, serving throughout the entire struggle as a surgeon, and at its close located in Birming- ham, Kentucky, where he continued to practice the homeopathic school of medicine with great success. Finally, however, at the urgent request of friends, he came to Princeton, and here he continued in the active practice of his chosen profession until his life's labors were ended in (leatlı.
Dr. Burchard was first married to Hettie Boyd, a native of Iowa, who died shortly after her marriage, having become the mother of one child, James B. In 1890 the Doctor was united in marriage, in Cald- well county, Kentucky, to Mrs. Pauline Watkins, the widow of E. P. Watkins, who was born and reared in North Carolina but came to this. state in an early day. He became prominent in the public life of this section, and served as circuit clerk of Caldwell county. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watkins,-Lucy and Webb, both born and reared in Caklwell county: Mr. Watkins died in this county in 1865. Mrs. Burchard is the daughter of Isaac and Catherine Gray, early pio- neers of this section of the state, and the father was engaged in the stave business during the greater part of his life. His death occurred in Caldwell county. Dr. Burchard was a Democrat in his political affilia- tions, and fraternally was a member of the Masonic order, the Inde-
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pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. His re- ligious views connected him with the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which he was a worthy member, and he was numbered among the leading and honored citizens of Princeton.
EDWIN D. BUTLER.
Edwin D. Butler, who is engaged in farming and gardening at Cecil, McCracken county, Kentucky, is a native of Tennessee, and dates his birth in the year 1849. His father was a native of Simpson county, Kentucky, and his mother of Tennessee, their names being Jolin E. and Harriet ( Hart) Butler. They were married in 1845, their lives were happily blended together for more than half a century, and they reared a large and respected family. He died in 1901, at the age of seventy-four years, and was buried in Golconda, Illinois; his widow is still living at Golconda. Of their family, we record that James Butler, a well known tiniber man, who operated in the south, died in Arkansas, in the year 1895, at the age of forty-one years; Henry Butler, also well known as a timber man, who did business in Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas, died in 1891, in MeCracken county, Kentucky; John Butler, of Alabama, is engaged in the same business; Harriet, wife of Henry Baker, of Golconda, Illinois, died in 1894, at the age of forty- two years; Sarah is the wife of Charlie Wormstead, of MeCracken county, Kentucky; Mary, wife of John Baker, of Golconda; Illinois, died in 1895, at the age of thirty-four years; Nancie Butler died in 1897, at the age of twenty-three years; Lula, wife of James King, of Gol- conda, Illinois, died in 1892, at the age of thirty-eight years.
Edwin D. Butler was quite young when his parents moved with
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their family from Tennessee to Illinois and located at Golconda, where he was reared and educated. Leaving school in 1870, he secured employ- ment as cook on a steamboat running from Pittsburg to Morgan City, Louisiana, and also visiting points on rivers tributary to the Ohio and Mississippi. In this way he was occupied for a period of eighteen years. In 1890 he came to McCracken county, Kentucky, and turned his at- tention to farming and gardening, and his thirteen years here have been attended with success.
In 1885 Mr. Butler married Miss Martha Gorry, of Golconda, Illi- nois, and the children of this union are Douglas, George, Gus, Fred, Sidney, Harriet and Hester.
JOIIN M. NICHOLS.
John Mahlon Nichols is a prominent practicing attorney of Car- lisle county, living in Bardwell. He has made his home here for eleven years, and he now occupies a prominent position as a repre- sentative of the legal fraternity. In this calling, where success is won through individual merit and where wealth and influence avail little or naught, he has steadily advanced, his success being due to his compre- hensive understanding of the principles of jurisprudence, his careful preparation of cases and his clear presentation of his case before court or jury.
Mr. Nichols was born upon a farm in Caldwell county, Kentucky, on Christmas day of 1846, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth ( Wad- lington) Nichols. His father was born in North Carolina and when a young man came to Kentucky. Here he was married, and took up
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his abode in Caldwell county, where he lived for several years, removing thence in 1849 to Missouri. After a few months spent in that state, however, he returned to Kentucky, and took up his abode in what was then Ballard county, in the town of Milburn. There he resided for about four years. On the expiration of that period he removed to a farm about eight miles south of Paducah in McCracken county, Ken- tucky, continuing the cultivation of his land for a number of years, until the death of his wife. He then took up his abode in Ballard county, living with a married daughter until his own demise, which occurred about 1880, when he was eighty years of age. Throughout his business career he had carried on general farming, and in all his business life so capably managed his affairs as to win prosperity, and was ever re- liable, upright and energetic. His political support was given to the Democracy, and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Missionary Baptist church, doing all in their power to promote the growth and insure the success of that religious organization. To this worthy couple were born the following children: William Presley, who was a public official in McCracken county and died when about sixty years of age; Robartus, who was killed while fighting for the southland in the Confederate army; Caroline, who died in early woman- hood; Sallie, who is the wife of J. O. Harkless, of Ballard county, at whose home her father died; James W., who is engaged in farming in Ballard county ; Mary, or Mollie, as she was usually called, who died in early womanhood; Andrew, who died when about forty-seven years of age in Texas, where he was engaged in merchandising; and John Mahlon.
In taking up the personal history of John M. Nichols we present to our readers the record of one of the most prominent and influential
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citizens of Carlisle county. Upon the home farm he was reared and in the district schools of the neighborhood acquired his literary education. Determining to make the practice of law his life work, he began the preparation for the bar when about twenty years of age in the office and under the direction of Z. W. Bugg, at Blandville, and in January, 1870, he was admitted to the bar. He began practice in Blandville and later was located at Wickliffe, while since March, 1892, he has resided in Bardwell, and has here followed his chosen profession with success. He is a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeals before the court. In no profession is there a career more open to talent than is that of the law, and in no field of endeavor is there demand for more careful preparation, for more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of the law or of the underlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. Unflagging application and intuitive wisdom, to- gether with the determination to ever utilize the means at hand, are the concomitants which insure success and prestige in this great profession. Possessing all the requisite qualities of the able lawyer, Mr. Nichols has advanced to a prominent place at the Carlisle county bar, and this is indicated by the large and representative clientage which is now his.
In 1871 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Nichols and Miss. Joseph Foree, who was born and reared in Ballard county, Kentucky. To them have been born seven children: Jesse F., the eldest, was born in Blandville, Ballard county, November 16, 1872, pursued his prelim- inary education there and afterward attended the Kentucky University; he studied law under the direction of his father, was admitted to the bar in 1893 and is now associated with his father in practice; in 1899 he married Miss Cora Washburn. Nora, the second member of the family, is now the wife of V. J. Law. Willie died at the age of three years.
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Agnes is the wife of Bert Weis. Andrew, Sallie and Joseph, the last one being named for her mother, are still under the parental roof.
Mr. Nichols gives his political support to the Democracy, and while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he has never been an active politician in the sense of office-seeking. How- ever, his fellow townsmen chose him to represent the district composed of Ballard and Carlisle counties in the state legislature. He was elected in 1887 and proved a capable member of the house, but outside of this he has held no political offices, preferring to devote his time and atten- tion to his chosen profession. He has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. He has excellent powers of concentration and application, and his re- tentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues. As an orator he stands high, especially in the discussion of legal matters before the court, where his comprehensive knowledge of the law is man- ifest, and his application of legal principles demonstrates the wide range of his professional requirements.
WILLIAM N. JEFFREY.
William N. Jeffrey, one of the representative men of Graves county, was born in Marshall county, Kentucky, and is a son of John P. and Mary E. (Jeffry) Jeffrey, natives of Kentucky. The paternal grand- father was William Jeffrey, born in North Carolina, of Irish descent. The maternal grandfather, William T. Jeffry, was born in Calloway county, Kentucky, and was a soldier in the Confederate army.
John P. Jeffrey was a farmer and moved to Graves county, Ken- tucky, February 22, 1880, and made it his home the remainder of his
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life. He never held office, but he enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862, and served as a private until the close of the war. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religion a Presbyterian. His death occurred October 29, 1894. His wife is still living. She was born March 20, 1853. Three children were born to these parents, namely : William N., Ida J., and Emmet Lee.
William N. Jeffrey was reared and educated in Graves county. He has been a farmer, dairyman and stock dealer all his life, and has been extremely successful, now owning a fine farm one mile north of Mayfield. In politics he is a Democrat and a member of the Presby- terian church.
On April 3, 1898. he was married in Graves county to Fannie Housman, born in Graves county, October 10, 1878, and to them two children have been born, namely: William R., born August 5, 1899; and Imogene, born August 5, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey are numbered among the successful, agreeable farmers of Graves county, and their home is a pleasant gathering place for their many friends.
SIMEON NORVEL LEONARD.
Simeon Norvel Leonard, deceased, was born in Lydna, Gloucester- shire, England, in the year 1801. He obtained a liberal education, both literary and scientific. In his youth he entered the English navy and served for a period of three years, rising to the rank of commanding lieutenant. He was an ardent student and lover of the sciences, and, his father being an iron manufacturer, he turned his attention to this line of industry. He also had a paternal uncle who was an iron manu- facturer and the founder of the town of Leonardville, South Wales,
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where he became very prominent in connection with the iron industry, dying a millionaire. The business pursuits of his father and uncle, together with his own scientific and industrial bent of mind, led Simeon N. Leonard into the field of the iron industry.
Two of his brothers, Reuben and Samuel, had left their native land to seek their fortunes in America, and in 1825 he followed them to this country. His brother, Reuben, had located at Bear Creek, Penn- sylvania, and, having purchased farm lands, was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. He became a large landowner and a very successful farmer. The other brother, Samuel, had turned his attention to the iron industry, and when Simeon N. Leonard came to the United States he soon afterward constructed and placed in operation a rolling mill for his brother Samuel at Pipetown, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. This, enterprise was known as the Pipetown Rolling Mills, and was the first rolling mill operated west of the Allegheny mountains.
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