Todd County KY

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

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

Biography of Col. John Todd

Col. John Todd, whose honored name this county bears, was the eldest of three brothers, and a native of Pennsylvania. He was educated in Virginia, at his uncle’s-the Rev. John Todd-and at maturity entered upon the study of the law, subsequently obtaining a license to practice. He left his uncle’s residence, and settled in the town of Fincastle, Va., where he practiced law for several years; but Daniel Boone and others having explored Kentucky, Col. Todd, lured by the descriptions given him of the fertility of the country, about the year 1775 came first to Kentucky, where he found Col. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William R. Link

WILLIAM R. LINK is an extensive farmer in Elkton Precinct, in which he was born. His parents, William and Martha (Bradshaw) Link, were born, reared and married in Virginia, from whence they came to Todd County, Ky. They improved a farm a short distance south of Elk-ton, where William Link died many years ago. Their family consisted of six children: John B., Fannie (wife of Robert Bradshaw), Leathy, William R., Martha (deceased) and Winfield. William R. and his brother, Winfield, now own and occupy the old Ephraim Porter farm, consisting of 480 acres of desirable land, and constituting one of … 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

Biography of Andrew Norton Moore

ANDREW NEWTON MOORE. The worthy subject of this sketch was born June 2, 1840, on the family homestead, where he now resides, in Todd County, Ky. His father, John Moore, was born in 1799, in Augusta County, Va.; after the death of his wife, removed to Tennessee, remained there one year, and then came to Todd County, Ky., about 1808, where he died in 1882. He was the son of David Moore, Jr., a Virginian, who purchased this tract of land in 1804, and died here in 1826, at the age of sixty-two years. David, Jr.’s wife was Jennie McClung. … Read more

Biography of R. D. Bellamy

R. D. BELLAMY was born in Lexington, Fayette Co., Ky., on December 14, 1818, and a son of John and Sarah (Johnson) Bellamy. The father was a native of Dinwiddie County, Va., and came to the State in 1810. In 1812 he was drafted into the war, but procuring a substitute he was excused. While a resident of that county he turned his attention to the carpenter’s trade. In 1819 he came to Todd County and turned his attention to farming. Soon after his arrival here he built a distillery near Daysville. This he ran for some time; he afterward … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Barnet McColpin

BARNET McCOLPIN, farmer, was born October 22, 1820, in Todd County, Ky., and is the youngest of seven children born to John and Phebe (Franklin) McColpin, natives of South Carolina. Subject’s mother died October 22. 1820; his father about the year 1846. Subject’s early educational advantages were not good, though he learned to read and write; he lived on a farm with his uncle and aunt, Joseph and Nancy (Franklin) McColpin, natives of South Carolina, till he became of age, when he began life for himself. He was married in November, 1843, to Nancy Black, of Todd County, daughter of … 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 Samuel Hinton

SAMUEL HINTON was born December 20, 1843, in Simpson County, Ky.; his parents were Jesse and Sarah (Mayes) Hinton, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The father died October 29, 1879, at the age of fifty-two; the mother is still living with her son Wesley in this county. Samuel Hinton came to this county in 1856, and settled in this district, where he has since resided; he was married May 10, 1863, to Elizabeth Bivin, a native of this county. Eight children were born of this marriage: Sarah E., William I., Atlas H., L. Thomas, Flora L., Rodolphus (deceased), … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Douglas Meriwether

DOUGLAS MERIWETHER was born August 25, 1842, in Car-roll County, Miss., and in 1858 removed to Ballard County, Ky., where he remained until 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and continued in the service until the end of the war. His father, Robert E. Meriwether, was a native of Todd County, and died in Ballard County, Ky., 1860, aged about fifty years. He was the son of Douglas, Sr., who was born in Albemarle County, Va., and died in Carroll County, Miss. Douglas, Sr., was the son of Nicholas Meriwether, also a native of Albermarle … 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

Biograhical Sketch of Dr. R. V. Williams

DR. R. V. WILLIAMS was born April 1, 1850, in Robertson County, Tenn. He is the son of Rev. R. Williams of the Baptist Church, who was born in 1811, and died May, 1877, in Todd County; his mother was Jane (Fuqua) Williams, who was born in 1812 in Virginia and is at present living with her son, Dr. Williams. In 1870 our subject took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. C. A. Elliott, studying four years. He attended the Medical Department of the Louisville University, graduating in the class of 1874. He then located at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Luckett

J. W. LUCKETT, son of A. D. and Martha M. (Lumsden) Luckett, was born in Clarksville, Tenn., May 3, 1848; his father was born in Virginia March, 1806, and his mother in 1813. His father emigrated from Virginia in early life, and after traveling about for some time settled in Elkton, Todd County, Ky., where-he remained ten years; he then spent some twenty years of his life on a farm between Elkton and Allensville, where he died April 14, 1882. His wife ended this life January 24, 1879. In youth he learned the painter’s trade, followed mercantile pursuits, and lastly … 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 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 Hon. D. B. Smith

HON. D. B. SMITH was born January 8, 1827, in Todd County, Ky.; he is a son of Spotswood Smith and Martha A. (Terry). The father was born December 14, 1800, in Louisa County, Va.; he came to Kentucky in 1816, and two years later settled in what is now Todd County, and at present living with his son. Our subject in September, 1844, went to Hadensville, and worked two years for his board in the store of Stephen and John Terry. The third year he secured a position with Ed Payne at a salary of $300 and board, a … 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

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

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Morgan

DANIEL MORGAN was born December 23, 1796, in Chatham County, N. C. His parents were William and Milla (Brewer) Morgan, both natives of the same State. They both died of a fever the same day in 1804. They are buried on Hall River, N. C. Our subject came to Christian County, Ky., in 1805, with his grandfather and uncle-Nathaniel and George Brewer. Daniel is one of the two oldest men in this part of the county, James Wilke being the other. Father Morgan had five brothers. These brothers never lived together after the death of their father, and so far … Read more