Todd County KY

Biographical Sketch of Col. M. D. Brown

COL. M. D. BROWN is a native of Christian County, Ky., born March 15, 1838, the youngest member of the famous Brown family, which consisted of fifteen children, twelve of whom lived to be grown. His parents were Thomas and Rebecca (Stuart) Brown. He was reared on the farm, and had in his early career no advantages of an education, and through life has relied on his own individual efforts to attain positions of social worth and of business prominence. A considerable portion of his time, since he attained the age of seventeen, has been spent as a teacher in … 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 Elder William E. Mobley

ELDER WILLIAM E. MOBLEY. Few among the deserving citizens of Todd County are more worthy, genial and intelligent than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this brief sketch. He was born in Todd County, Ky., March 2, 1824, and has always retained his residence here. His father, Claburn Mobley, was born near Columbia, S. C., in 1787; removed to middle Tennessee in childhood, thence to Todd County, Ky., about 1807, where he died in 1867. He was the son of William Mobley. Claburn’s wife, Elizabeth (Ellison), was born in Georgia, 1795, and died in 1862. Their children … Read more

Biography of Robert H. McKinney

ROBERT H. McKINNEY was born November 26, 1845, in Todd County, Ky. His parents are William W. and Rebecca (Griffin) McKinney, natives of Kentucky. The parents of William W. were John and Naomi (Ridgedill) McKinney, natives of South Carolina. John died in 1834, aged sixty-five. His wife died in 1824, aged about 50 years. Of their eleven children, Nancy Rector, of Texas, and William W. are all who survive. The latter is one of the respected, good farmers of the county, owning at present writing 300 acres of land. His first marriage, to Rebecca Griffin, August 25, 1840, resulted in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Preston E. Downer

PRESTON E. DOWNER, Fairview. The subject of this sketch is a native of Todd county, Ky., having been born near the place of his present residence, September 22, 1837. He is the son of John S. and Elizabeth (Cabaniss) Downer. In youth he was favored with a good English education, and is an extensive reader, especially of pomological works and literature. On December 10, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E., daughter of John S.’ and Angelina (Sasseen) Long of Todd County, and to them have been born three children: Nonnie, born November 14, 1870; Leslie, born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John J. Pogue

JOHN J. POGUE was born June 18, 1851, in Logan County, Ky.; he is a son of James R. and Sarah (Johnson) Pogue. The father was born in Sumner County, Tenn., and is now living on his farm in Logan County. The mother was born in Logan County; she died December 2, 1882, aged sixty-two. Our subject was raised on his father’s farm, and in 1881 he commenced to learn the blacksmith’s trade, which he has since foil owed. August 15, 1882, he came to his present locality, where he has since carried on this business. Mr. Pogue is a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Miss. Sarah F. King

MISS SARAH F. KING was born August 23, 1825, in Orange County, Va.; she is a daughter of H. R. and Mary Ann (Peacher) King, both born in the same county and State. The father died in 1838, aged thirty-four; the mother died in 1863, aged fifty-six. When young she came with her parents to within two miles of Clarksville, Tenn.; there lived till 1850; she then moved to Todd County, and has since resided with the Meriwether family, first on the Meriville farm, and now on the Fairfield farm. Her brother, John W., entered the Confederate Army in 1861 … Read more

Biograhical Sketch of William Pinckney Stephenson

WILLIAM PINCKNEY STEPHENSON was born in what is now Alexander County, N. C., and is a son of William L. Stephenson and Lavinia Smith, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, the former of English and the latter of Welsh ancestry. William P. was born July 20, 1823, and in 1839 came to Kentucky with the family, who settled in Logan County, where, in February, 1840, his mother died. His father afterward removed near Hopkinsville, Christian Co., where he lived for many years, and where he died, January 28, 1882, at the age of eighty-four years. William P. is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Seymour H. Perkins

SEYMOUR H. PERKINS, of the business firm of S. H. Perkins & Co., Elkton, Ky., is a son of Judge B. T. Perkins, Sr., and was born November 7, 1844, in Elkton. He was reared in his native village, which has ever been his permanent home. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company F., Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry, and in the organization of the company was elected to the commission of Second Lieutenant. He shared in the service of his regiment until shortly after the battle of Shiloh, when, on the account of loss of health, he resigned his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin D. Eddins

BENJAMIN D. EDDINS was born in .Todd County, Ky., November 4, 1841, where he still retains his residence, though about one-third of his farm lies in Christian County. His father, Dulany Eddins, was born August 14, 1800, in Orange County, Va., and died in Todd County, Ky., July 24, 1864. He was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church. The family are thought to have been of Scotch origin. Subject’s mother, Susan S. Downer, of Culpeper County, Va., was born June 14, 1806, and died in Todd County, February 11, 1874. Her grandfather, Col. John Slaughter, of the Revolutionary war, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Salmon

W. H. SALMON was born September 14, 1844, in Todd County. He is a son of Capt. William and E. P. (Cobb) Salmon, parents both born in Virginia; they came to Todd County in about 1829. The father died in 1847. Our subject was raised on his mother’s farm. She died in February, 1880, leaving three children: America A., John and William IL, who was married April 20, 1882, to Miss Sallie Bell, of Arkansas. One son gladdens their home-David B. This farm consists of about 220 acres of land, well improved.

Biographical Sketch of William R. Bearden

WILLIAM R. BEARDEN, one of Todd County’s leading farmers, tobacco and stock traders, was born January 1, 1833, in Montgomery County, Tenn. He is the second of five children-four boys and one girl -four now living, born to Benjamin B. and Elizabeth (Majors) Bearden, natives of Montgomery County, Tenn., of English descent. The father is the son of William Bearden, born in England; the mother is the daughter of James and Sarah (Weekly) Majors, who was reared in Montgomery County, Tenn. Subject’s early educational advantages were poor; he attended school about two years in all, and has by his own … 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

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 George W. Watts

GEORGE W. WATTS, farmer, was born November 19, 1855, in Todd County, Ky., where he grew to manhood, and is still residing. He is the son of Charles G. and Caroline E. (Smith) Watts, of this county. In youth George W. procured a fair business education, and is a reader of books and current news. On January 24, 1883, he was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of David and Mary (Rollow) Dickerson, of an old Virginia family, now residing in Montgomery County, Tenn. Mr. Watts is a neat and tasty farmer, engaged in the successful cultivation of corn, wheat … 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

Biography of Samuel Chesnut

THE CHESNUT FAMILY. Among the prominent families who early immigrated to Todd County in the pioneer days, may justly be mentioned the one appearing at the head of this brief sketch. Near the beginning of the present century the widow Chesnut removed from North Carolina to Todd. County, Ky., and settled on the Elk Fork of Red River. With her came her sons, Samuel, James, John and Alexander. They were zealous members of the old Seceder Church. Of these sons, Samuel, born in North Carolina, 1793, was a valiant soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1866. His … Read more

Todd County, Kentucky Courts and Bar

Under the Constitution of 1799, there were three inferior courts, the Circuit Court, the County Court and the single Magistrate. The first was the same as at present, though in the scarcity of lawyers, the fashion was to travel the circuit, the Judge leading and the bar following as escort. Hopkinsville, Elkton, Russellville and Greenville were the principal points to which the practice of the time led the leading lawyers of the Todd County bar. The County Court was the great local arbiter of county interests, and was composed of a “competent number” of justices appointed from the county at … Read more

Biography of Dr. I. N. Walton

DR. I. N. WALTON was born in Henry County, Tenn., August 19, 1827, and is a son of Simeon and Mary (Henry) Walton. Mr. Simeon Walton was a native of Louisa County, Va., having been born there in 1789, but his parents were of Welsh descent. He came to Robertson County, Tenn., when two years old, with his parents, where the latter died. Simeon grew to manhood in that county, married Miss Henry, who was a native of that county. In 1811 he came to Henry County, Tenn., where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1865. While a … 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