Todd County KY

Biographical Sketch of John Holland

JOHN HOLLAND, retired, was born February 4, 1799, in Cabell County, W. Va. He is the fifth in a family of eleven children born to Michael and Aggie (Ward) Holland. The father was a millwright and farmer; he died in 1825, aged about sixty-five. The mother died in 1810, aged about forty. John and a brother are the only survivors of this family. John came to Todd County in February, 1820, and located in Sharon Grove, where he remained two years, after which he moved to Pond River and remained one year. He then returned to Sharon Grove and there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Pinkney Powell

PINKNEY POWELL was born August 1, 1829. ‘His parents were Isaac and Tebithie (Lacey) Powell, both natives of North Carolina. The father came to this county sixty-four years ago. lie is still living ‘at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. The mother died in 1864, at the age of about seventy years. These parents were for many years members of the Mount Tabor Baptist Church. Our subject began for himself at the age of twenty years. He knows exactly how every dollar of his wealth came, as he has earned it by hard labor and good management. He now owns … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sr. Alexander T. Byars

ALEXANDER T. BYARS, SR., is a native of and has always resided in Todd County, Ky., and was born May 5, 1816. He is the son of John S. Byars, who was born in Louisa County, Va., removed to Todd County, Ky., about 1810, where he died about 1826, and Martha, daughter of Stephen and Mildred (Bagby) Terry, of this county. Unto John S. and Martha Byars were born Stephen, James, Mary A. (Petty), Alexander T. and Sarah M. (Grant). Mr. Alexander Byars was married April 6, 1843, to Miss Harriet, daughter of John and Nancy (Taliaferro) Ederington, of Todd … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edgar H. Morton

H. EDGAR MORTON was born on the place where he now resides, November 5, 1835, and has retained his residence here all his life. His father, George, was born in 1795, in Orange County, Va.; removed to Todd County, Ky., about 1832, where he died in 1882. He was the son of John, who was the son of Elijah Morton, of Scotch descent. Subject’s mother was Amanda, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Adams) Tandy, and to her and husband were born: Ann E., subject, Hulda F. (Tandy), and John G. Mr. Morton was favored with a good English education, is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Asbury Stamper Reese

ASBURY STAMPER REESE was born December 16, 1829, in Shelby County, Ky.; removed with his parents to Todd County in 1833, where he grew to manhood and still retains his residence. His father, Rev. Thomas G. Reese, long a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born on the line dividing North Carolina and Georgia, in 1799, and died here in 1881. He was the son of James Reese, who died in this county in 1837. Subject’s mother, Susanna (Demaree), was born in Shelby County, Ky., and died in 1850. To her and husband were born: subject, Jane C. (Tyson), … Read more

Biography of John F. Bell

JOHN F. BELL, merchant of Elkton, Ky., is a son of J. W. Bell, and Sarah H. Bell (nee Browder). He was born February 11, 1851, at Bell’s Chapel in Todd County, where his father died September 2, 1884, John F. received the advantages of a common English education, in his native county, and in the Browder Institute of Logan County. In 1872, he came to Elkton and for one year was employed as a salesman in the business house of James Russell; he then effected a partnership with Mr. R. M. Russell in the grocery trade, which partnership was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Sallie E. Taylor

MRS. SALLIE E. TAYLOR was born in Todd County, Ky., October 29, 1845, where she still resides. Her father, Reuben O. Manion, was born in this county in 1823, where he is still living. He is the son of James Manion, a native of South Carolina, a Revolutionary soldier, who lived until about 1849. Subject’s mother, Eliza R., daughter of John and Rebecca (Reed) Pendleton, of Todd County, was born October 19, 1822. The union of herself and husband was blessed with nine children, among whom were three pairs of twins, each single birth alternating with the dual. Of these … Read more

Public Buildings of Todd County, Kentucky

The general description of the first court house is contained in the order of the County Court quoted on a preceding page. Maj.. Gray undertook his part promptly, pushing it forward with great vigor. He made the brick on the public square, and completed it early in 1821. The finishing of the inside was delayed some time for lack of funds, and was not finally completed until September, 1822. The first story was devoted to the court, and the upper story to a large room which served the various purposes of jury room, Masonic lodge room, etc. The county officers … Read more

Biography of George Street

GEORGE STREET, who settled in the eastern part of Trigg County, Ky., soon after its formation, came from Richmond, Va., where for several years he had been a prominent merchant. In Trigg County he opened an extensive farm, and spent the remainder of his life in that place, devoting himself to the pursuits of agriculture. He had a family of several children, among whom was one son-George P. Street-who became a minister of much prominence in southern Kentucky. George P. Street was born in Virginia, in March, 1814, and when of sufficient age went to Illinois and obtained a collegiate … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William E. Buie

WILLIAM E. BUIE was born in Missouri, May 14, 1847; his parents are John and Susan (Redphern) Buie. The father is a native of Tennessee, his age about sixty years, and now living in Logan County; the mother was a native of the same State; her death occurred in 1882, aged sixty. Our subject began for himself in 1866; he started with limited means; his business was working a shingle machine, with which he worked for wages eight years, when he moved to where he now lives; he has improved this farm and residence, and now has one of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John W. Grissam

JOHN W. GRISSAM, produce merchant, was born April 11, 1832, in Christian County, Ky. His parents were J. W. and Sarah W. (Wells) Grissam. The father was a native of South Carolina; he managed the farm for many years and served the county for some years in an official capacity; he was Deputy Sheriff’, Tax Collector and Constable, all under the old Constitution. It was generally conceded that he gave good satisfaction in his official work. He departed this life December 7, 1861, at the age of sixty-four years; he with his wife were for many years worthy members of … Read more

Biography of Baxter C. Porter

BAXTER C. PORTER is a son of the Rev. Thomas Porter, an early Presbyterian minister of Hopkins and Todd Counties, who was born in Virginia, May 12, 1788. Thomas Porter came in childhood to Logan County, Ky., where he attained his manhood, and where in June, 1808, he married Nancy Lawrence, who before her death in December-, 1831, bore him three children, none of whom are residents of Todd County. In February, 1833, he married Jane H. Lawrence, a sister of his deceased wife. This union resulted ‘ in the birth of three children, B. C. Porter being the youngest. … 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 Dr. Joseph S. Dickinson

DR. JOSEPH S. DICKINSON, Trenton, is a native of Louisa County, Va., where he was born, January 1, 1827, and in 1831 removed to Todd County, Ky., where he grew to manhood, and has since resided. His father, Roscoe O. Dickinson, was born in Louisa County, Va., in 1802, and died here in 1863. He was the son of Capt. Cole Dickinson, a gallant soldier in the war of Independence, who died in 1844, aged seventy years. Roscoe C.’s wife was Emily, daughter of Jesse and Mary (Boxley) Harris, of Louisa County, Va., and to them were born: Jesse C., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. W. Latham

G. W. LATHAM, a wealthy and prominent farmer of Todd County, Ky., is the eldest of six children-three living-born to John and Susan (Brock) Latham, natives of North Carolina and South Carolina, respectively, of English descent. His grandparents on his mother’s side were David and Betsey (Gibson) Brock. Subject’s early education was neglected, never having attended school in his life. He was reared on a farm; his father died when he (subject) was but fourteen years old, hence the care of the family devolved upon him. He hired out by the month and worked this way till he was married, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Felix G. Miles

FELIX G. MILES, druggist, Elkton, Ky., is a son of Elisha F. and Eliza J. Miles of Logan County, Ky. He was born in that county, near Russellville, August 4, 1854; was reared on his father’s farm and educated in Cottage Home College of his native county; he is the second of a family of nine children, all of whom are yet living. The parents are natives of North Carolina, from whence they came to Kentucky in 1850, and settled in Logan County, where they still reside. Mr. Miles came to Elkton, Todd County, in 1877, and formed a copartnership … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F. L. Anderson

F. L. ANDERSON was born November 5, 1856, in Todd County. He is a son of F. A. and Mary (Magill) Anderson. The former died September 12, 1884; the mother is living in Allensville. They were natives of Kentucky. Our subject now owns and occupies this farm, consisting of about 200 acres and known as the old Andrews farm. Mr. Anderson was married December 18, 1879, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Edward Anderson of Paducah, Ky.; they are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Biographical Sketch of Elijah N. Jones

ELIJAH N. JONES, a prominent and enterprising citizen of Todd County, was born October 26, 1837, in Fairview District, Todd County, Ky. He is the second of thirteen children-five boys and eight girls-ten still living, born to Isaac H. and Anna (Wilkins) Jones, natives of Indiana and Todd County, Ky., respectively, the mother of Irish descent. Subject’s early advantages for an education were poor; he attended school about two years in all. He was reared on the farm and lived with his parents till his marriage on December 23, 1858, to Miss Harriet A. Lindsey, of Todd County, daughter of … Read more

Early Kentucky Amusements

The early sports were allied to useful occupations. Quiltings, wool-pickings and spinning-bees were made up by the women, when the afternoon was given to work and the night to games, the young men coming in to share the entertainment and escort the girls home. House-raisings, log-rollings and husking-bees were occasions when the men after a hard day’s work would spend, the evening with the young women invited in. As society developed, however, the times showed “smart signs of wickedness ” in place of these earlier amusements. Horse racing, shooting matches, raffling and dancing came in to disturb the staid people … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wade M. Clark

WADE M. CLACK was born November 13, 1826, in Simpson County, Ky. The parents were Sterling and Elizabeth (Jones) Clack. The father was a farmer, born in Tennessee; he died in 1868, at the age of sixty-five. The mother died in 1854, aged fifty-five. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Wade M., on starting for himself, worked as a hand for several years. In 1858 he bought a farm of forty acres; he then bought and sold three times before coming to his present location in 1874. He has improved his farm, which contains 140 acres. He was … Read more