Todd County KY

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 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 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 Aaron Virgil O’Daniel

AARON VIRGIL O’DANIEL, one of the enterprising young farmers of Todd County, was born September 12, 1845, in Christian County, Ky. He is the second of seven children-four boys and,three girls-three still living, all boys-born to Joshua and Nancy (Colvin) O’Daniel, natives of Christian County, Ky., and of Irish origin. Subject’s grandparents, Joshua and Susan A. (Grissam) O’Daniel were natives of North Carolina, and emigrated to Christian County about 1812, and engaged in farming. Mrs. Susan A. O’Daniel is still living, and is ninety-three years old. Our subject’s early educational advantages were poor; he attended school but little on account … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Eugene O. Watts

EUGENE O. WATTS was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., November 11, 1848, and removed with his parents to Todd County, Ky., in infancy, where he has continued to reside. He is the son of Charles G. Watts, who was born in Todd County in 1818, where he died in 1879, and Caroline E., daughter of Dabney and Agnes (Walton) Smith, his wife, who was born in Virginia. Their children are: Alice A., Eudora A. (Sladyen), Eugene O., Thomas D., Charles II., George W., Frank W., Walter L. and Carrie E. Eugene O. was married in 1871 to Miss Emma H. … 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 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

Early Church Influence in Todd County, Kentucky

The people who laid the foundations of society in Todd County were a religious people. The great revival movement which originated in Logan County in 1800, spread over the new settlements of the State like a prairie fire, and set the whole land in a flame of religious ardor. It was a time when pious ardor broke through the restraining forms of the church, and expressed itself in the wildest ecstasy and most extravagant manifestations. There were but few church buildings of any character in this region, and the people came together in large camp-meetings, where the Spirit of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Clarence R. Hollins

R. CLARENCE HOLLINS was born September 22, 1851, in Todd County, Ky.; he was raised in Montgomery County, Tenn.; he is the eldest of five children born to S. P. and P. F. (Knott) Hollins. The parents were born in Virginia. The father was born September 5, 1822. The mother was born in 1832. They are now living on their farm in Montgomery County, Tenn.; there the subject of our sketch was raised and remained until his marriage, which event occurred November 20, 1879, to Victoria Cole, a native of Mount Pleasant, Va. This union is blessed with two sons. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William H. Jesup

WILLIAM H. JESUP. The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is a resident of ” Jesup’s Grove,” (formerly known as ” Croghan’s Grove,” in honor of the famous ” Hero of San-dusky,” who entered this land). Mr. Jesup was born near this place, April 26, 1843, and at the commencement of the late war, entered Company H, First Kentucky Cavalry, in which he served two years. In 1867 he engaged in the tobacco business here and at New York, in which he continued seven years. His father, William W. Jesup, was born in 1796 in Washington … 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 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 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 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

A Kentucky Barren

The name popularly applied to the region embraced within the limits of Barren, Warren, Simpson, Logan, and the lower part of Todd, Christian and Trigg Counties, is very misleading to the modern ear. To the pioneers of the early part of this century, impressed by the stern experiences of frontier life, it meant a land ” where every prospect pleases” the eye only to dupe the understanding. They had been brought up in a timbered country, and had been educated to believe that it was necessary not only to their comfort but to their very existence. They had an exaggerated … Read more

Biography of Rev. Crittenden Reeves

HON. CRITTENDEN REEVES was born in this county December 28, 1842. In 1849, he moved with his brothers to Missouri; remained there until 1856, and then returned to Todd County. Of his father, an obituary notice says: ” Benjamin H. Reeves, the eldest son of Brewer and Martha Reeves, was born in Augusta County, Va., March 21, 1787, and moved with his parents to Christian County, Ky., about the commencement of the present century, and settled on the West Fork of Red River. Shortly after their arrival in Kentucky his father died, leaving his widow and infant children in comparatively … 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 B. D. Johnson

B. D. JOHNSON .was born on the same farm on which he now resides, on November 18, 1832, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret (Hudson) Johnson. The father was a native of Maryland, being born there on November 27, 1786. When a mere youth his father moved to Fayette County, where the latter died. Subject’s father came to this county in 1815, where he settled on an adjoining farm. Here he pro-cured a Government patent for 400 acres; but only resided there two years; returning to Jessamine County he married Miss Hudson on October 2, 1816, who was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas S. Mimms

THOMAS S. MIMMS was born April 1, 1839, in Todd County; he is a son of William T. and Parthenia A. Kimbrough, daughter of Capt. Thomas B. Kimbrough, who was one of the earliest settlers of this county. The father was born March 23, 1815, in Christian, now Todd County; he died April 18, 1861. The mother was born December 28, 1817, also in this county. This lady died April 3, 1881. Our subject was married September 16, 1862, to Bell L. Taliaferro, of this county, by whom he has four children-one son and three daughters. They are members of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis B. Reeves

WILLIS B. REEVES is a son of Willis L. Reeves and Margaret Edwards. They had four children: Willis B., Haden E. (now in Texas) and two who died in childhood. Willis B. Reeves was born near Elkton, Ky., June 19, 1835, and was reared and educated here, which has been his permanent home since. In early life he began the study of law with Hon. F. M. Bristow and H. G. Petrie, was admitted to practice, which combined with agriculture, has occupied his time. He has served Todd County in the capacity of County Attorney, and two terms as Judge … Read more