Todd County KY

Biographical Sketch of John W. Riley

JOHN W. RILEY. This gentleman, who is a son of James Riley and Mary A. (Rose) Riley, was born in Logan County, Ky., June 18, 1855. He was reared on his father’s farm in his native county, where his parents are still living; was educated in the Browder Institute, and is now devoting himself to the pursuits of agriculture with marked success. He came to Todd County in 1878, and the following year purchased of John L. Atkins the farm on which he now lives; his farm, one of the best stock farms in the county, consists of 254 acres … Read more

Biography of W. H. Sarver

W. H. SARVER, son of Henry and Mary 0. (Rice) Sarver, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., near Gallatin, March 1, 1835. His father was a native of North Carolina and of German-Scotch descent. His mother was a native of Tennessee and of Scotch origin. His father was educated at the pioneer schools of his day. In early life, by his own natural abilities, he became a skillful millwright and followed this calling in connection with farming. During his life he owned several mills; at one time two mills, a carding machine and pottery, doing an extensive business. He was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. H. Coleman

R. H. COLEMAN was born in Dinwiddie County, Va., on July 24, 1840, and is a son of Edmund N. and Eliza (Watkins) Coleman. The parents were both natives of Virginia, the father being born there on September 29, 1797; the mother on October 17, 1798; the former was of Irish descent, the mother of Welsh. When subject was about eighteen months old the parents came to Logan County, Ky. They lived there only one year, and then came to this county; here they settled on the farm now owned by subject, and here the father died on April 28, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard C. Christian

RICHARD C. CHRISTIAN, Trenton, was born in Trenton, Ky., October 28, 1847, and removed with his parents to Ballard County, Ky., where he remained six years, after which he returned to Todd County, in 1865, where he has since resided. He is the son of Abner C. Christian, who was born near Knoxville, Tenn., about 1814, and is still living. Subject’s mother, Virginia (Falkner), died 1878. To her and husband were born the following children, viz.: Richard C., William A., David M., and Robert H. In early youth, Richard C. procured a common business education. He was married, June 4, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lycurgus H. Arnold

LYCURGUS H. ARNOLD, Postmaster of Trenton, was born December 29, 1831, in Todd County, Ky., where he grew to manhood and still resides. His father, William P. Arnold, is a native of Louisa County, Va., where he was born in 1806; removed with his parents to Christian County, Ky., in 1812, and thence to Todd County about 1830, where he still resides, an honored and worthy citizen. He is the son of Aaron Arnold, a Virginian. Subject’s mother, Amadiah, daughter of William Pettus, of Todd County, is still living. Her children are: Subject, Lucy J., Louisa A. and William A., … Read more

Political Development of Todd County, Kentucky

THE final act of State authority in forming and organizing Todd County was the location of the seat of justice. Several points, New-burg, Old Elkton and the present site were in competition for the location. The competition was not very active, and there was but little difference in the advantages offered. At Newburg, James Kendall had established a hotel, the ” half way house ” between Russellville and Hopkinsville, and proposed this location as the most central point eligible for the county seat. Old Elkton had the merit of a good start on the banks of the river, but the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George B. Lewis

GEORGE B. LEWIS is the eighth of a family of eleven children, born to Williamson V. and Clarkie Lewis (nee Bell). These parents were each natives of Chatham County, N. C., where they grew to maturity and were married. They removed to Tennessee and settled in Robertson County in 1819. There the mother died August 4, 1831. The father died in Weakley County, Tenn., in 1874, at the age of eighty-three years. His second marriage was to Sarah P. Freeman, by whom he had eight children. George B. was born in Robertson County, Tenn., February 8, 1824. He was reared … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Paul H. Salmon

PAUL H. SALMON was born September 25, 1814, in South Carolina. His parents are George and Elizabeth (West) Salmon, the father a native of Virginia, the mother of Maryland. The father was a teacher, merchant and farmer. He died in Marshall County, Miss., in 1865, aged eighty-seven. The mother died in South Carolina in 1829. Paul H. came to this county in 1844. Six years previous he had been engaged in the cotton mills. He sold goods in Elkton six years, and in 1850 he came to the farm on which he now resides. After the death of his father-in-law, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. F. Cole

W. F. COLE was born in Todd County, Ky., January 1, 1856, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah A. (Day) Cole, both natives of Virginia, and were of English descent respectively. Samuel Cole was born in 1811 in Virginia, where he was reared and educated, his father being a teacher. On emigrating to Kentucky “he settled in Daysville, named in honor of his wife’s grandfather, the first settler in the village. Ile was a mechanic but followed farming principally; both Mr. and Mrs. Cole were life-long members of the Christian Church, he being a Deacon and leading member. … Read more

Biography of Dr. Augustus Lewis

DR. AUGUSTUS LEWIS was born May. 15, 1839, in Trigg County, Ky. His parents were Leonard and Lydia (Withers) Lewis. The father was a native of Virginia; born July 4, 1796. He was a farmer and taught in public schools for thirty years. He came to Kentucky in 1818, and cast the first Republican vote over cast in Muhlenburg County. It was for Gen. Fremont, in 1856. His death occurred October 13, 1881. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South since 1848. The mother was a native of Kentucky; born December 15, 1815; she is still living … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. D. Francis

P. D. FRANCIS was born April 10, 1829, in this county. He is a son of Stephen and Nancy (Martin) Francis; both parents were born in Virginia. The father died in 1839, aged seventy. The mother died in 1849, aged sixty-eight. Our subject was raised on his father’s farm where he remained till the age of twenty-one; he then lived on a rented, farm two years, after which he bought a farm of 200 acres, where he remained about four years; he then sold that farm and came to his present locality; the first year he worked at the tannery; … Read more

Biography of W. S. Gill

W. S. GILL was born in this county on July 9, 1838, and is a son of Coleman and Mary L. (Watkins) Gill. The father was born in Fauquier County, Va., in 1806, and came to Todd County in 1810 with his parents, who settled about one mile south of the Lasley Mill in this district, and there the latter died. The father, upon reaching manhood, turned his attention to farming, and settled near the mill; here he lived_ for upward of twenty years. He then moved to the south part of the precinct; here he lived until his death, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles B. Crutchfield

CHARLES B. CRUTCHFIELD is a native of Spottsylvania Co., Va., where he was born December 27, 1841. His grandfather’s wife was Elizabeth L., daughter of Gen. Garrett Minor, of Virginia. In 186,1 he enlisted in Company E, Ninth Virginia Cavalry, in which he served until the end of the war. His father, Stapleton, was born in Spottsylvania County, in 1808, and died there in 1859. He was the son of Maj. Stapleton Crutchfield, Sr., a soldier in the war of 1812. Subject’s mother, Sarah A., daughter of Maj. William Alsop, of Spottsylvania County, Va., was born in 1812, and died … Read more

Biography of Hon. D. B. Smith

HON. D. B. SMITH was born January 8, 1827, in Todd County, Ky.; he is a son of Spotswood Smith and Martha A. (Terry). The father was born December 14, 1800, in Louisa County, Va.; he came to Kentucky in 1816, and two years later settled in what is now Todd County, and at present living with his son. Our subject in September, 1844, went to Hadensville, and worked two years for his board in the store of Stephen and John Terry. The third year he secured a position with Ed Payne at a salary of $300 and board, a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin T. Wyatt

BENJAMIN T. WYATT, an industrious and respected citizen of Todd County, was born October 26, 1839, two miles south of where he now resides. He is the third of five children-two boys and three girls-three now living, born to Finis W. and Catherine (Brock) Wyatt, natives of Todd County, Ky., and North Carolina. Grandparents were Thomas and Mary (Neadham) Wyatt, natives of Virginia, and David and Nella (Norton) Brock. Subject’s early education was neglected; he never attended school more than three months in his life. He obtained knowledge of books by hard study at home. He was reared on a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. O. Duffy

P. O. DUFFY was born September 10, 1837, in Hartsville, Tenn. He is a son of Francis and Permelia (Parker) Duffy. In 1845 he came with his parents to Todd County and was raised on his father’s farm, where he remained until the age of sixteen years. He then secured employment as clerk in the store of Taylor & Duffy, and remained with this firm about one year, after which his father opened a store and he began then to clerk for him. They carried on the business until the death of his father, which occurred May 2, 1858. The … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas B. Rutherford

THOMAS B. RUTHERFORD. One of the very earliest to locate in Todd County was John Rutherford, the father of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born January 7, 1802, and in early life located on land that now forms a part of the farm owned and occupied by Thomas B. He afterward moved into the house where the latter now lives, where he spent many years and where, on the 3d of March, 1857, he died. He was married, December 24, 1822, to Miss Jane Morrow, and reared a family of eight children, viz.: James H., now … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Deason

W. H. DEASON was born in 1840 in Todd County, Ky.; his parents are James N. and Eliza J. (Tacker) Deason, natives of Kentucky. The father was a farmer; his death occurred in 1864, at the age of forty-seven years; the mother is living in this county, at the age of sixty-five years. These parents have eight children all living in years of maturity (a very uncommon thing). W. H. began for himself at the age of twenty years; he farmed on rented ground for fifteen years, when he bought 150 acres, located on the East Fork of Pond River; … Read more

Biography of Michael Kennedy

THE KENNEDY FAMILY. In the year 1809 Michael Kennedy, Eleanor (McCaffrey) Kennedy his wife, and their six children Thomas, William, James, Betsey, Paulina and Urban E. removed’ from Lincoln County, Ky., to Todd County (then Christian). Michael Kennedy was a coppersmith by trade, and was brought up in Dublin, Ireland. He came to America about the beginning of the Revolutionary war, in which he served as a soldier. At the close of that glorious struggle for liberty, he took up his residence in Virginia as a hunter and pioneer, and was there married in 1785. The following year, and shortly … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Lear

GEORGE LEAR was born in 1820, in Todd County. His father and mother were George and Nancy (Shuffle) Lear. The father died about the year 1854, aged sixty. The mother died in 1864, aged about fifty-five. George began for himself at the age of twenty-five. He rented from his father for several years before buying. He came to this farm in 1860. He first bought 212 acres good land, and has been buying and selling land since. He was in the United States Army about four months, and, while in the service he was taken with the measles and became … Read more