Biographical Sketch of William S. Wyatt

WILLIAM S. WYATT, one of the wide awake farmers and leading citizens of Todd County, was born June 26, 1844, in Todd County, Ky. His parents were Finis and Catherine (Brock) Wyatt, natives of Todd County, Ky., and North Carolina respectively, and of English descent. Subject’s advantages for an education were not good; he was unable to write until after he became of age, but by his shrewdness and activity has made life a success. He was reared on a farm, and with the exception of the seen years he worked in a tan-yard has been engaged in farming, also … Read more

The Pioneers of Todd County, Kentucky

The early immigration to the State of Kentucky, as has been noted, came to the blue grass region and upper Kentucky Val-ley. A few of the more adventurous spirits pushed out to the southwest in the upper valley of Green River, and of these were the founders of Davis Station in Christian County, and Justinian Cartwright, in Todd County, in 1792. It is to be regretted that the sketches of the Hon. Urban Kennedy, published in a county paper, have not been preserved in-tact. Through the care of W. P. Stephenson, a few fragments have been secured to which the … 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

Biographical Sketch of John S. Downer

JOHN S. DOWNER, son of Benjamin Sr. and Elizabeth (Slaughter) Downer, was born in Woodville, Culpeper Co., Va., June 19, 1809; married Miss Elizabeth W. Cabaniss (daughter of George L. and Catherine Cabaniss), at Princeton, Ky., November 19, 1832; died while on a visit to his son, L. A. Downer, of Barren County, Ky., February 10, 1873. Subject’s mother was a daughter of Col. John Slaughter, of Revolutionary days. John S. was one of eleven children who arrived at maturity, and when but a child was brought by his parents to Christian County, Ky. At an early age he evinced … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. N. Adams

R. N. ADAMS was born October 7, 1842, in Todd County; he is a son of W. D. and Frances (Grady) Adams. The father was born in Virginia in 1805; he died in March, 1876; the mother died in 1850. In about 1827 these. parents came to Todd County and engaged in farming. Our subject was raised on this farm. He enlisted in 1862 in Company A in Woodward’s Cavalry, and served about five months, when he returned home and continued farming. He now owns the homestead with 200 acres; also 600 acres where he now resides, and 116 acres … Read more

The Indians of Todd County, Kentucky

The relation of the Indians to the Mound-Builders has not been satisfactorily determined by scientists. Indian traditions are so vague, and so utterly lacking in the prime essentials for a scientific basis, that few archaeologists have taken them into the account. Some, how-ever, have hazarded an hypothesis in accordance with the traditions mentioned above, while others (among whom the late Mr. Morrison, an account of whose researches in New Mexico have been published by the Smithsonian Institute), have taken the ground that the Indian is a degenerate descend-ant of these ancient people, and that the famed Montezuma, whose halls have … 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 John W. Murphy

JOHN W. MURPHY was born August 26, 1846, in Todd County, Ky. His parents are William and Nancy (Shelton) Murphy, both natives of this State and still living. The father is a member of the Baptist and the mother of the Christian Church. The mother was previously married to Joseph Allison, who departed this life in November, 1836. By him she had four children. Our subject began for himself at the age of twenty-one. His start was one horse. Farming has always been his business. He is now comfortably situated and owns 100 acres of land located one mile from … 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 Samuel H. Jones

SAMUEL H. JONES, an enterprising farmer of Todd County, was born April 15, 1827, in Christian County, Ky. He is the youngest of ten children, five boys and five girls, born to Amos and Barbara (Henderson) Jones, natives of Chatham County, N. C. His father was of Welsh-German and his mother of English descent. Our subject’s early educational advantages were poor, never having attended school but ten months in all; he has by hard work been able to acquire a good business education. He was reared on a farm, and lived with his parents till their death. His mother died … Read more

Clark Co., Ky

CLARK CO. (Mayme Nunnelley) The first records of Slaves in Clark County was given by a descendant of one of the members of the little band of resolute Revolutionary soldiers who had been comrades and mess mates throughout the long bloody war. These fifteen families, some from Virginia and others from Maryland, started westward in the early spring of 1783 for Kentucky. They bought with them some horses, a few cattle, thirty or forty slaves and a few necessary household articles. After many hardships and trials, borne heroically by both men and women, they halted on the banks of the … 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

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 Richard C. Christian

RICHARD C. CHRISTIAN, Trenton, was born in Trenton, Ky., October 28, 1847, and removed with his parents to Ballard County, Ky., where he remained six years, after which he returned to Todd County, in 1865, where he has since resided. He is the son of Abner C. Christian, who was born near Knoxville, Tenn., about 1814, and is still living. Subject’s mother, Virginia (Falkner), died 1878. To her and husband were born the following children, viz.: Richard C., William A., David M., and Robert H. In early youth, Richard C. procured a common business education. He was married, June 4, … 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 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 W. Stinnett

WILLIAM W. STINNETT, son of Noel N. and Margaret (Winders) Stinnett, was born in Todd County, September 16, 1838, and is the second of a family of eleven children, born to these parents. His grand-father, Benjamin Stinnett, was a native of Ireland and came here when young, to what is now Todd County, where he married and reared his family, and where he spent his life. He was a Baptist minister, with the duties of which he combined agriculture. His son, Noel N. Stinnett, was born in this county, of which he is now an honored citizen, and as above … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard C. Hardison

RICHARD C. HARDISON, teacher, was born February 3, 1858, in St. Mary’s Parish, Louisiana. His parents are Richard B. and Elizabeth Hardison. The father is a native of Kentucky; he is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church South; he preaches and teaches in the public schools; he owns a farm of 100 acres in Muhlenburg County, Ky., which is carried on by himself and his son, John C. He has been a minister for about eight years, and a teacher for nearly thirty years. The mother is a native of Virginia. She also is a member of the Methodist … Read more

Biography of Dr. Augustus Lewis

DR. AUGUSTUS LEWIS was born May. 15, 1839, in Trigg County, Ky. His parents were Leonard and Lydia (Withers) Lewis. The father was a native of Virginia; born July 4, 1796. He was a farmer and taught in public schools for thirty years. He came to Kentucky in 1818, and cast the first Republican vote over cast in Muhlenburg County. It was for Gen. Fremont, in 1856. His death occurred October 13, 1881. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South since 1848. The mother was a native of Kentucky; born December 15, 1815; she is still living … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles William Ware

CHARLES WILLIAM WARE is a native of Christian County, Ky., and was born November 16, 1826. In 1827 he removed with his parents to Todd County, where he grew to manhood and has since that time had his residence; he is the son of Edmund Ware, who was born in Franklin County, Ky., in 1799, and removed to Christian County about 1820; he was married in 1824, to Miss Louisa V., daughter of Nicholas M. and Sarah T. (Bullock) Anderson, of Todd County, and from this union sprang: Sarah J. (Runyon), Charles William, Mary A. (Edmunds), Jasper A., Susan B. … Read more