Todd County KY

Biography Sketch of W. B. Shelton

W. B. SHELTON, by occupation a physician, was born in Todd County, Ky., October 20, 1843, and is a son of Crispin and Polly B. (Dodd) Shelton, both natives of Kentucky-the former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of Irish descent. Crispin Shelton was born August 3, 1807, and his wife was born in 1819. In youth he learned the carpenter’s and cooper’s trades and followed them in connection with farming, his principal occupation. He has held the office of Jailor of Todd County, and he and wife are devoted members of the Christian Church. W. B. Shelton was reared and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William C. McGehee

WILLIAM C. McGEHEE, merchant and farmer, was born November 9, 1844, in Todd County; his parents were John and Julia A. (Penileton) McGehee, natives of Virginia. The father is living in this county, and engaged in farming; the mother died June, 1879. Our subject began for himself on the farm at the age of twenty-one; he worked two years on his mother-in-law’s farm, and attended land of his own also; he lived at Bivinsville one year, and came to his present location in 1869; he owns 156 acres of land where he now resides; he keeps a store of dry … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. C. Griffin

P. C. GRIFFIN. Among the genial, hospitable and worthy citizens of the precinct, Phillip C. Griffin, our subject, deserves mention; his birth dates November 27, 1845. His parents, James J. and P. C. Griffin, and he as well, were natives of this county. The father was a farmer, later a merchant, who died February 15, 1880, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother makes her home with her youngest child, Mrs. Lacey, aged sixty-four years. The father was, and the mother still is, a devoted member of the Christian Church. At the age of eighteen Phillip C. began on … Read more

Biography of J. M. Simpson

J. M. SIMPSON is a son of Peyton and Jane (Waugh) Simpson; the former was a son of William and Nancy (Hawley) Simpson, the grand-parents of our subject. William Simpson was born December 3, 1769, and died June 9, 1854. His wife Nancy was born June 19, 1785, the time of her death is not known. Both she and her husband were natives of Virginia. Peyton Simpson, the father of J. M. was born September 22, 1799, in Virginia. In youth he learned the cooper’s trade and followed it for many years. On November 23, 1828, he started over the … Read more

Biography of Hazel G. Petrie

HAZEL G. PETRIE, (some of the family spell the name Petree, others as above, which is the original and correct orthography), is a descendant of Peter Petrie, who was born in Scotland, of Scotch-Presbyterian parents. When in his seventh year, Peter attended a school taught by a Presbyterian minister, somewhat distinguished for his rigid enforcement of the rules. For some real or fancied infringement of the rules of the school, the Scotch schoolmaster chastised Peter, who fled for refuge to his mother, who, unfortunately for Peter, was of the same stern stock as the schoolmaster. She accordingly administered a second … 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

Biographical Sketch of Thomas J. Camp

THOMAS J. CAMP, farmer, was born June 15, 1851, in Todd County, Ky., and is the third of nine children born to William and Emily (Lewis) Camp, natives respectively of Hart and Todd Counties, Ky., of English descent. His early advantages for an education were poor, never having attended school for more than three months in all. He was reared on a farm and lived with his parents until of age, when he started in life for himself at farming. He was married on May 28, 1873, to Mary Annis McClelland, of Todd County, a native of Christian County, and … Read more

Biography of Daniel E. Goodman

DANIEL E. GOODMAN (deceased) was a native of Hart County, Ky., where he was born June 7, 1838. He came to Elkton, Todd Co., with his parents, John A. (deceased) and Sarah E. Goodman (deceased), when a boy, and he was here educated and grew to manhood. For many years his father kept the only hotel in the village of Elkton, the building now owned by Dr. J. L. Woollard, known as the Elkton Inn. Daniel E. was the eldest of a family of twelve children, born to these parents. In early life, Daniel began a mercantile career, in which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Franklin M. Chesnut

FRANKLIN M. CHESNUT. Among the names of the first settlers in the vicinity of Elkton, is that of John Chesnut, who came from South Carolina in 1810, and settled in 1812 in Todd County, on the farm now owned and occupied by Frank M. He had a family of eight children, including five sons, among whom was John Chesnut, the father of Franklin M. He was born July 25, 1796, in South Carolina; came to Kentucky with the family, and here in Todd County married Miss Maburn, who died after bearing him three children, viz.: Jane, Mary E., who married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lucy A. Fox

MRS. LUCY A. FOX was born in Christian County, Ky., April 11, 1824, and removed to Todd County in 1838, where she still retains her residence. She is the honored daughter of James Clark, who was born in 1791, reared at Frankfort, Ky., and served his country as a gallant soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1877. He was the son of Matthew Clark, a native of Virginia, who died in Kentucky about 1830. Subject’s mother, Susan S., daughter of Col. Beverly Stubblefield (of Revolutionary fame) and his wife Mary (Shelton), was born in Virginia, 1797, and … Read more

Biography of Jacob B. Davis

JACOB B. DAVIS was born February 21, 1834, in Todd County, Ky. His parents were Jacob and Polly (West) Davis, both natives of North Carolina. The father settled in Todd County at an early day. His death occurred in 1865, aged seventy-five years. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject, the eighth of thirteen children, began for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He had nothing in the start but his own energy and perseverance. In addition to farming he has worked some at the carpenter trade. He has been tolerably successful in business. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. F. Tate

W. F. TATE, of the firm of Norris & Tate, dry goods, notions, etc., was born December 8, 1823, in Todd County, Ky. He is a son of Francis and Martha (McGehee) Tate, both natives of Louisa County, Va. The father was born in 1795, and died in August, 1842. The mother was born in 1797, and died January, 1878. They came to what is now Todd County in 1819, and engaged in farming. Our subject was raised on the farm, where he remained until the fall of 1860, when he moved to Robertson County, Tenn., and there engaged seventeen … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charner A. McColpin

CHARNER A. McCOLPIN, an enterprising citizen and farmer of Todd County, was born May 25, 1843, on the farm where he now resides; he is the sixth of eleven children-foui girls and seven boys-three boys and three girls now living, born to Charner H. and Martha (Jones) McColpin, natives of North Carolina and of Irish descent. Subject’s father was a son of Joseph and Nancy (Franklin) McColpin. Subject received a fair common school education; he was reared on the farm and lived with his parents till twenty-five years of age, when he engaged in mercantile business; he spent two years … 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 Dr. W. D. Meriwether

DR. W. D. MERIWETHER was born April 21, 1854, in Arkansas; he is a son of Dr. James H. and Lucy (McClure) Meriwether. The father was born in Todd County in 1812, and is now living with his son on this farm. The mother was born in Clarksville, Tenn., in 1830, now deceased. At the close of the war our subject came to what is known as the Meriville farm, originally consisting of 900 acres, which has since been increased to 1,300 acres. The extensive improvements of this farm, which are probably the best in the precinct, were placed there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F. H. Sears

F. H. SEARS was born December 25, 1814, in Todd County, and on this farm. He is the son of William and Susan M. (Howks) Sears. The father was born on the Potomac River, Va., in 1779; he died May 28, 1852. He came to Logan County, Ky., with his parents in 1792. There he was married, and in February, 1804, came to this farm. He died May 28, 1852. The mother was born in Frederickstown, Md.; her death occurred April 19, 1867, aged seventy-one. Our subject was born and reared on this farm, which he owns, consisting of 222 … Read more