Biography of James T. Cunningham

James T. Cunningham, deceased, Mattoon; the subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Grayson Co., Ky., July 11, 1802; his early life was spent on the farm, and his education limited to a few months’ attendance upon the public or subscription schools of his native State; from a very early period in life, the support of the family mainly devolved upon him; in the fall of 1830, he came West to Illinois with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Yocum and her family, and settled in what is now Paradise Tp., Coles Co. He is mentioned in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James L. Hart

James L. Hart, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son of Oliver and Zorada Hart; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., June 18, 1846; moved with his parents to Coles Co., Ill., Oct. 12, 1848; is the owner of seventy-six acres of land, valued at near $3,500. Was Postmaster at Etna for one year. Was married to Elizabeth Smith, of Coles Co., Sept. 24, 1866. His father, Oliver Hart, was born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 31, 1825; died Jan. 25, 1867, in the 42d year of his age; his mother, Zorada Hart, was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Oct. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Jeffris

James Jeffris, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Mattoon; owns 240 acres; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 17, 1821; moved to this county with his parents when 10 years of age, and lived with them until married to Matilda Jane Johnston, Oct. 6, 1842; she was born in Russell Co., Va., Nov. 28, 1822, and has had eleven children, six of whom are living, viz., Mary E., Martha, Johnston, Stephen D., Joanna and Kitty C.; deceased-G. D., Leah, S. M. and two infants. Mr. Jeffris was Constable four years, School Director five years and School Trustee twenty years; his … Read more

Dewees, George W. – Obituary

George W. Dewees, Valley Pioneer, taken by death widely known Ellensburg resident dies here today George William DeWees, 78, an Ellensburg resident for the past 56 years, died at the Ellensburg General Hospital this morning. In failing health for several years, he suffered a stroke Wednesday [October 6, 1945] morning and failed to rally The son of the late William and Valinda DeWees, he was born April 14, 1867, near Leitchfield, KY. When he was six years old his parents moved to the Middle West, where he spent his boyhood. He came to Ellensburg February 28, 1889, and went to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James L. Hackley

James L. Hackley, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Mattoon; owns seventy-four acres; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Nov. 25, 1842, and lived with his parents on the farm until 1855, when he came with parents to this county in 1856, where he has since resided. He was married Feb. 14, 1867, to Martha Jeffries; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 28, 1847, and has five children – Katie, Emma, Olga, Harden, Oren; Mr. Hackley has been School Director six years, and Overseer of roads two years in this township; Mr. Hackley’s parents were natives of Kentucky; Mrs. … Read more

Grayson County, Kentucky Census Records

1790 Grayson County, Kentucky Census Records Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – 14 Days Free Hosted at Census Guide 1800 U.S. Census Guide 1800 Grayson County, Kentucky Census Records Free 1800 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – 14 Days Free Hosted at Census Guide 1800 U.S. Census Guide 1810 Grayson County, Kentucky Census Records Free 1810 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – 14 Days Free Hosted at Grayson County USGenWeb Archives Project Census Transcription Census Page 237 1 page Hosted at RootsWeb Census Transcription Page 1 of 1 Hosted … Read more

Biographical Sketch of S. C. Doran

S. C. Doran, farming and stock; P. O. Mattoon; the subject of this sketch was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Dec. 12, 1827. He married Miss Eliza A. Wort-ham Nov. 5, 1850; she was born in the same place Nov. 18, 1830; they had ten children, seven living, viz., David W., Mary L., Edwin W., George M., Nannie A., Oscar J. and John H. He was born on his father’s farm, and moved to Hart Co., Ky., with his parents, in 1832, and lived there until 1854; he then went to Grayson Co., and engaged in farming; in 1860, he … Read more

Biography of Richard Stoddert

Richard Stoddert, farmer, stock-dealer and merchant, Charleston; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 28, 1812; his early life was passed on his father’s farm, and when quite young, he was apprenticed to learn the tanner’s trade; about the year 1831, he went to Madisonville, Hopkins Co., Ky., where he remained until 1838, when he came to Charleston; he engaged in the tanning business with his brother, Thomas Stoddert, the firm being R. & T. Stoddert, the partnership continuing for about thirty years in tanning, merchandising, farming and dealing in stock; they had at one time about 800 acres of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. Gannaway

R. Gannaway, farmer; P. O. Paradise; is the son of Wm. and Sallie Gannaway; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Oct. 23, 1810; moved with his folks to Coles Co., Ill., March 27, 1828; is the owner of 131 acres of land, valued at or near $7,000., Was School Director, Road Overseer for several years. Was married to Elizabeth Gannaway, of Coles Co., Ill., Dec. 28, 1836; names of children – boys, Robert, Samuel, James W.; deceased, John W.; girls, Roda J., Susan; deceased, Louisa. His father, William Gannaway, was in the war of 1812, served as Captain, came home … Read more

Grayson County, Kentucky Cemetery Records

Grayson County Grayson County, Kentucky Cemetery Records Hosted at Grayson County USGenWeb Archives Project Beatty Cemetery Robinson & Dinwiddie Extracts Kelly Cemetery McCandless Cemetery Grayson County, Kentucky Cemetery Records Hosted at Grayson County, Kentucky KYGenWeb Big Clifty Cemetery Tombstone Photographs John and Hannah Adams William and Rachel Avery Stella Mae Jennings Mulberry Flats Baptist Church Cemetery Richard Decker Gaylan and Martha Felty Backside of above marker Linda Franklin Pat and Josie Franklin Pat – Josie and Linda Franklin Backside of above marker Bowman Haycraft Byron Haycraft Backside of above marker Emort and Ambrose Haycraft Herley and Sue Haycraft Backside of … Read more

Biography of Thomas Stoddert

Thomas Stoddert, merchant, farmer and stock-dealer, Charleston; among the early settlers of Coles Co. was the Stoddert family, consisting of the mother, Mrs. Mary Stoddert, and nine children, who came from Grayson Co., Ky., at different times from 1836 to 1838; they are descended from the old Massachusetts family of Stodderts, their grandfather, Benjamin Stoddert, being a Major in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine; he was afterward the second Secretary of the United States Navy; Gen. Ewell, of the Confederate army in the war of the rebellion, was a cousin; their father, Benjamin Stoddert, … Read more

Biography of Samuel Van Meter, M. D.

Samuel Van Meter, M. D., physician and surgeon, Charleston; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Nov. 8, 1824; he is a son of John and Catharine (Keller) Van Meter, the former of whom died in 1827; his mother then removed with her family to Illinois, settling in Coles Co.; he received such education as the common schools in those pioneer days afforded; at the age of 15 years, he was apprenticed to the tanner’s trade, but before completing his apprenticeship he purchased his time of his employer, and was in turn bound to Dr. T. B. Trower, and entered upon … Read more