Biographical Sketch of George W. Jesup

GEORGE W. JESUP. The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is one of the active, energetic and naturally intelligent citizens of Todd County, Ky. He is a native of Fayette County, in this State, where he was born February 10, 1823, and in 1829 removed with his parents to Todd County, where he has since resided. His father, Col. Samuel B. Jesup, was born in Orange County, Va.; immigrated to Kentucky in 1793; was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812; was once a member of the House of Representatives, and eight years a member … 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

Biography of Samuel Horace Wells

SAMUEL HORACE WELLS, County Clerk of Todd County, was born December 25, 1850; is a son of William H. and Mary (Porter) Wells, and a native of Todd County. His father was also born in this county October 23, 1822; was a son of Jesse Wells, and descended from an old Virginia family, which was represented in the State of Kentucky at a very early day. William H. married Mary E. Porter, daughter of Samuel Porter, once a resident of Elkton. She was born February 11, 1827, in Todd County, and died September 26, 1872. William H. Wells was a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William M. Bell

WILLIAM M. BELL, ” Roseheath.” The subject of this sketch is a native of Todd County, Ky., and was born in his present residence, June 25, 1840. His father, Rev. Caleb N. Bell, was born in 1788, in Beaufort, N. C.; was an itinerant Methodist preacher in Virginia; removed to Kentucky in 1820, and died here in 1872, having been a useful minister of the Gospel for sixty-two years. He was thrice married, and his children are: Martha A. (Greenfield), John W., Mary S. (Clark), Eliza J. (Mills), Caleb M. and subject, who received a classical education t Emery and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry R. Rudd

HENRY R. RUDD was born July 15, 1842, in Todd County; he is a son of Richard and Lavina (Francis) Rudd, who are natives of Kentucky, and now living in this precinct. Henry R. enlisted in 1861, in Company F, Twenty-fifth United States Kentucky Infantry. This regiment was afterward consolidated with the Seventeenth Infantry; he was then transferred to Company D. After serving eighteen months he was discharged on account of sickness caused by exposure and from the effects of which he has suffered more or less since, which is gradually impairing his health, and leaves him in poor hope … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James R. Pendleton

JAMES R. PENDLETON, Trenton, was born in Todd County, Ky., November 20, 1850, and has always retained his residence here. His father, Harvey B. Pendleton, was born in 1811 and died about 1854; he was the son of John Pendleton. Subject’s mother, Louisa M., daughter of George and Betsey Carnall, of Todd County, was born in 1831. To her and her husband, Harvey B., were born: Martha A. (deceased), James R. and Cenara (deceased). James R. in youth procured a good English education, and is a reader of good books and papers. He was married, November 10, 1874, to Miss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elijah C. Brown

ELIJAH C. BROWN. Mention has already been made of this gentleman’s ancestors, and will be found in the chapter devoted to Elkton District. He is a son of Preston and Rosena Brown, and was born near Hadensville, Todd County, on the 30th day of October, 1845. He was reared on his father’s farm, meanwhile attending the common schools, after which he attended school in Clarksville, Tenn. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted as a soldier iii the Confederate Army, and followed the fortunes of his command to the close of the war. He was first a member of an … Read more

Biographical Sketch of N. E. Kay

N. E. KAY was born August 19, 1814, in Culpeper County, Va.; he is a son of Gabriel and Fannie (Wagner) Kay, parents both born in the same county and State. When an infant our subject was brought to Todd County with his parents; about two years later his father died; he was brought up on his mother’s farm, and at the age of eighteen he went to Nashville, where he secured a position in a wholesale grocery store; remained there ten years; he- then went to Arkansas, where he was en-gaged in merchandising two years, after which he returned … 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

Biographical Sketch of John McL. Roach

JOHN McL. ROACH was born June 16, 1843, in Todd County; he is the fourth child of a family of seven born to John and Pamela Ann (McLean) Roach. The father was born August 13, 1807, and in 1812 came with his father, Gabriel Roach, to this farm. In about 1840 the father bought out the remaining heirs of the estate, and engaged in farming with marked success till the time of his death, which occurred January 22, 1872, leaving his three children in comfortable circumstances. John inherited 140 acres, and bought out his brother’s interest; he now owns about … 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

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 Louis N. Girod

LOUIS N. GIROD, teacher, was born August 24, 1859, in Hopkins County, Ky. His parents were John and Sarah K. (Coffman) Girod, the father a native of France, the mother of Kentucky. The father was a merchant at Henderson, and later at Ashbysburgh, Ky. He came to this county in 1855. His death occurred in 1863, aged forty. The mother is living in Webster County, Ky. These parents had three children-Sophie A., the’ wife of W. H. Weir, of Hanson, Ky.; Louis N. and Charles (deceased). Mr. Girod attended public school until the age of fifteen. The next three years … 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

Biographical Sketch of John W. Tutt

JOHN W. TUTT, merchant and farmer, was born November 23, 1846, in Todd County, Ky., where he has resided all his life. His father, James F. Tutt, was born in 1814, in Woodford County, this State, and is still living. He is the son of James L., born 1777, and he the son of Lewis, an Englishman, who was the grandfather of Gov. John M. Palmer, of Illinois. Subject’s mother is Mary (Fletcher) Chiles. Her children are: Arthur C., William J., John W. (subject), Georgia A. (Beazley) and Samuel L. John W. obtained a classical education. He was married, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. W. Galbraith

T. W. GALBRAITH was born in Tennessee, December 27, 1858, and is the son of W. G. and L. A. (Morton) Galbraith, also natives of Tennessee. W. G. Galbraith was educated in his native State; is a mechanic and has followed his trade in connection with farming, which latter is his principal occupation. He lived for two years in Kansas and also two or three years in Illinois, but at present resides in his native State. T. W. Galbraith, our subject, received a good education in Kentucky, to which State he immigrated when quite young. He was engaged on the … Read more