Todd County KY

Biographical Sketch of James D. Duncan

JAMES D. DUNCAN, tobacco merchant, was born in 1845, in Montgomery County, Tenn. His parents were D. H. and Mary L. (Brake) Duncan, natives of Tennessee. The father was a tobacco merchant, a member of the Christian Church and of the Masonic order. The mother’s death occurred in December, 1873, at the age of fifty-four years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Duncan began business for himself at the age of twenty-five years. Previously he had been interested with his father; he has been a resident of this county since 1871; he bought 135,000 pounds of tobacco … 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 G. E. Porter

G. E. PORTER was born in Todd County, Ky., July 17, 1861, and is a son of W. R. H. and Anna (Dowdy) Porter-the former a native of Kentucky and the latter a native of Mississippi. W. R. H. Porter was reared and educated in Todd County. He has followed farming, his principal occupation, all his life, with the exception of some seven or eight years, when he was engaged in the mercantile trade. He is now living in Elkton District engaged in farming. He has filled the office of Con-stable. He is a member of the subordinate lodge of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles E. Tandy

CHARLES E. TANDY, one of Todd County’s young and enter-prising farmers and stock-breeders, was born November 12, 1860, in Todd County, Ky. He is a son of Dr. N. M. and Margaret J. (Jesup) Tandy. The latter was a daughter of Col. Samuel B. Jesup, born November, 1792, died August, 1866, and Catherine Jesup, born March 1795, died July, 1870. Subject’s father was born 1810, died July, 1881; his mother born 1819, died August, 1877. Parents were natives of Christian and Todd Counties respectively. Our subject received more than an ordinary education, having attended Fairview and Olmstead Academies two years … 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 Robert W. Downer

ROBERT W. DOWNER, son of John S. and Elizabeth W. Downer, was born February 3, 1843, on the place where he now resides in Todd County, Ky. Subject was married January 29, 1867, to Miss Sada K. daughter of Rev. Robert and Jane A. (Fuqua) Williams, of McCracken County, Ky., and to them was born one child-Preshie (deceased). Subject is a nurseryman by profession, and together with his brother, is extensively engaged in the nursery business, under the firm name of Downer & Brother, successors to their father, who established the business in 1834. They have at all times eighty … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. T. Hollins

R. T. HOLLINS was born December 4, 1832, in Louisa County, Va.; he is the fifth son of a family of seven children born to Richard and Susan (Higgason) Hollins, of the same county and State. The father was born in 1790; he died in 1880, aged eighty-eight. The mother was born in 1801, and died in 1844, aged forty-three years. In 1837 the family came to Todd County, and settled on a farm where Hadensville is now situated. Mr. Hollins donated land to the railroad for depot purposes, etc., and laid out the town. Our subject was raised on … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William O. Buckley

WILLIAM O. BUCKLEY, carpenter and millwright, was born July 21, 1844, in Warren County, Ky. His parents are J. H. and Levina (Johnston) Buckley, both natives of Kentucky. The father is a carpenter, still living, in Logan County, at the age of sixty-seven years. The mother died in 1863, at the age of forty-six years. The mother was, and the father is a devoted member of the Christian Church. These parents have had seven children, five of whom are now living. Our subject began for himself at the age of sixteen years. He served about three years in the Confederate … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Vertner R. Johnson

VERTNER R. JOHNSON was born July 11, 1861, in Todd County; he is a son of J. H. and G. A. (Wims) Johnson. The parents were both born in this county. The mother was born on this farm; they are now residents of Allensville Precinct. Subject was raised on his father’s farm, where he remained till his marriage, which event occurred March 13, 1881, to Miss Nannie B. Pennington. She was born in Louisiana. This union has been blessed with two children-one son and one daughter. After marriage Mr. Johnson came to this farm, which he owns, consisting of 316 … 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

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

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

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

Biography of Nelson Wade

NELSON WADE, a leading citizen and merchant of Fairview, was born in northeastern Todd County, Ky., March 23, 1825, and is the third of ten children-seven boys and three girls-nine living, born to Brunt and Easter (Carr) Wade, natives of Virginia and Todd County, Ky., respectively. The father was of Welsh-English and the mother of Irish descent. Subject’s grandfather Wade was a native of Virginia; his grandfather Carr, of Ireland. Subject’s father was born in 1793, and served one year in the war of 1812. When he became of age he emigrated ‘to Todd County, Ky., where he rented land … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Hinkle

JOHN H. HINKLE, one of Todd County’s intelligent and enterprising young farmers, was born December 12, 1849, in White County, Tenn. He is the third of four children, two boys and two girls, born to Isaac N. and Martha C. (Holland) Hinkle, natives of Georgia and White County, Tenn., respectively. The father was of German and the mother of Welsh-English descent. The father moved first to Tennessee and then to Christian County, Ky., about the year 1854. Two years later he moved to Todd County, where he was very successful. He died in 1874, at about the age of sixty … 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 John F. Snadon

JOHN F. SNADON is a resident of Hadensville Precinct, and lives upon the farm where he was born October 22, 1826. His parents, George and Sallie (Cross) Snadon were natives of Rockingham County, Va.; came to Todd County in 1822, and settled upon the farm where John F. Snadon now resides. The property originally consisted of some 900 acres, but has since been reduced to 570 acres by the sale of a part of its area. Here Mr. Snadon lives as a gentleman farmer, employing some four to eight hands. The Snadon mansion is a typical Southern home of culture … 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 Jonah W. Hale

JONAH W. HALE was born October 14, 1824, in Todd County, Ky. His parents were Thomas and Nancy (Pittman) Hale. The father was a native of North Carolina, and died in March, 1855, aged about sixty years. The mother died about the year 1826. Mr. Hale began for himself at the age of nineteen years; he rented for many years, then bought 183 acres, and since has bought 157 acres; he at present owns 340 acres, and is clever and well-to-do. He was married, February 6, 1848, to Martha E. Utley, daughter of James and Fanny (Grace) Utley. The latter … Read more

Biography of Col. E. G. Sebree

COL. E. G. SEBREE was born in what is now Trenton District, Todd Co., Ky., in 1817, ‘and is a son of Fendal J. and Martha C. (Garth) Sebree, natives of Albemarle County, Va., and of English and French descent. Prior to the war of 1812, the father was a resident of Richmond, Va. He subsequently took part in that conflict, being stationed for some time at Norfolk. Some time in 1813 he came West. He first went to St. Louis, where he was offered one-half of the present site of the city for a mere nominal sum. Not liking … Read more