Kentucky: A History of the State Perrin, Battle & Kniffin 2nd ed., 1885, Hopkins Co. Home Page

Surnames Biography Campbell Seely Sisk Woodson Williams Powell Morton W. F. CAMPBELL was born September 21, 1856, in Hopkins County, Ky. He is a son of M. A. and E. J. (Seely) Campbell. The father was born in Tennessee, the mother in Missouri. About 1848 they came to Hopkins County, where they have since resided. Our subject, at the age of twenty, entered the store of W. H. Sisk as clerk, where he remained about five months, after which be attended the Dixon Normal School about three months; he then taught school about fifteen months and again attended the high school at Cadiz, taught by Prof. W. L. Woodson; he then taught school in Caldwell County about five months; he then returned home and worked on his father's farm one year, and also farmed one year in Union County. In 1882 he came to Dawson, was engaged in the liquor business one year, and was one year in Beulah, Mo. In 1884 be returned to Dawson, where he has since had charge of the business of Williams & Powell, dealers in general merchandise. He was married September 21, 1882, to Hattie Morton, of Madisonville. One bright daughter gladdens their home. Cardwell McGary Jackson Woodruff WILLIAM W. CARDWELL was born in Hopkins County May 31, 1822, and is the second of five children born to Thomas and Catherine (McGary) Cardwell, natives of Mercer County, Ky., and of English and German descent, respectively. Thomas Cardwell, about 1812, came to what is now Hopkins County, Ky, then almost an unbroken wilderness. Here at Madisonville, then a very small village, he engaged in merchandising for seven years, when he was married; after which he bought a partially improved farm of 200 acres eight miles north of Madisonville, moved into a log-cabin and subsequently improved a farm, on which he resided about twelve years. He then sold out and bought another farm of seventy-five acres adjoining Madisonville on the east, to which he afterward added 200 acres. He also owned property in the town. His death occurred March 11, 1867, in his eighty-seventh year. He served under Gen. Jackson during the Florida war. William W. Cardwell was employed on his father's farm until he was thirty years old, when his father deeded him a part of the old home farm adjoining Madisonville. Here he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1881, when he retired from active business and is now residing in the town of Madisonville. On the lot where be now resides was erected the first house (a rude log-cabin) ever built in Madisonville. Mr. Cardwell was married November 25, 1851, to Miss Nancy J. Woodruff, a native of Hopkins County, Ky., and a daughter of David and Elizabeth Woodruff, who were among the earliest pioneers of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Cardwell have been born three children - two sons and one daughter - who all died within five years after having attained their majority. Mrs. Nancy J. Cardwell departed this life May 9, 1881, in her fiftieth year. She was a devoted member of the Christian Church. Mr. Cardwell is also, and has been for over forty years, a member of the same church. In politics he is a Democrat. Cardwell Egbert Laffoon WILLIAM E. CARDWELL was born November 11, 1825, in Mercer County, Ky. He is a son of James and Nancy (Egbert) Cardwell, natives of the " Old Dominion." They came to Kentucky at an early day, and settled in Hopkins County in 1827. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and received a good common school education. At the age of twenty-two he commenced farming on rented land, where he remained three years. He then bought 100 acres of land and continued farming. He added other lands by purchase as his means would allow, and now owns about 3,500 acres, he being one of the largest land owners in the county. This large amount of property Mr. Cardwell acquired by constant attention to business and judicious management. This farm is located eight miles east of Madisonville, and he employs twenty hands. He raises more hogs than any other in the county; disposes of them to home buyers, and also ships in car lots to Louisville. Mr. Cardwell was married, in 1859, to Amanda Cardwell, of Hopkins County. One daughter has blessed their union - Katsie, now wife of Peter Laffoon, who resides here and assists Mr. Cardwell on his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Laffoon were married October 22, 1882. He was born in this county May 4, 1861. Cheek Donley McCulley PROF. J. S. CHEEK, president of the Madisonville Normal School and Business College, Madisonville, Hopkins Co., Ky., is a native of Havanna, Ill. He is a son of John L. and Mary S. (Donley) Cheek. The father was born in Kentucky, and died in 1868, aged forty-seven. The mother was born in Kentucky, and now lives in Cumberland County. Our subject at the age of sixteen entered the Burksville Normal School, where he remained about two years; he then taught a district school, and attended the Holly Grove Academy a short time, after which be accepted a position as clerk in a store, where he remained nine months. He then went to Lebanon, Ohio, and attended the National Normal University, from which be graduated in 1883. In August of that year he came to Madisonville, and, with Prof. McCulley, became owner of the Madisonville Normal School and Business College. He now owns one-fourth interest in this college, the value of which, with grounds, is about $10,000. Prof. Cheek has charge of the branches of letter writing, natural sciences and rhetoric. This institution employed thirteen teachers. Clark Price Kirkwood Wilson T. W. CLARK, Hopkins County, of the firm of Price & Clark, druggists, was born February 22, 1848, in Hopkins County, Ky. He is a son of L. W. and Eliza J. (Kirkwood) Clark, both born in this county, and residing on their farm in Dalton District. Our subject at the age of twenty-one settled on sixty acres of land which he improved and two years later sold, and bought a farm of 170, acres on Trade Water; there he lived five years and still owns the land. In March, 1882, he came to Dawson, and in company with Mr. Price, engaged in their present business. Mr. Clark holds the office of magistrate, having been elected in 1882. He was married, in 1869, to Hattie Wilson, of Hopkins County. One bright son gladdens their home - Dennie M. Clements Kidd MERIWETHER CLEMENTS was born June 29, 1804, in Wilkes County, Ga. When three years old he was taken by his parents to Virginia, but at the age of fourteen returned to Georgia, where be remained about thirty years. About 1854 he came to Hopkins County, Ky.. and settled on 1,000 acres of land, this being part of a survey of 3,000 acres, which were deeded to his uncle, Dr. Mace Clements, by the government for seven years' services in the Revolutionary war. He exchanged 1,000 acres of this land for land in Georgia, with his brother, who afterward died; the mother then deeded this land to our subject; about 400 acres of this, the latter has since given to his children. Mr. Clements was married in 1828 to Elizabeth Kidd, of Georgia; she died in 1864, aged sixty, leaving three sons and one daughter. Mace now lives with the father, and has general charge of the farm. Coleman Moreman Jackson Oates JOHN M COLEMAN was born in Logan County, Ky, January 22, 1815, and is a son of Archibald and Elizabeth D. (Moreman) Coleman, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Virginia; they were of Irish and English descent respectively. Archibald Coleman was educated and married in his native State, and some two years afterward, in about 1812, moved to Logan County, Ky, where he resided until 1820; he then came to Hopkins County, Ky. Here be bought wild land near the present site of the village of White Plains, moved into a rude log cabin, and subsequently improved a farm, upon which he resided for some sixteen years. He then bought another farm in the same neighborhood, on which be resided for twelve years. During his residence on this farm he lost his first wife, the mother of our subject, and some four or five years later married his second wife, soon after which he removed to the western part of the county, near Providence, where be resided until his death in October 1860, in his sixty-eighth year. In early manhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, and followed it in connection with farming and teaming until the last twenty years of his life, when. he was exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He fought under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, and during the whole of that engagement occupied a position on the top of the breastworks, but escaped without a wound. For the last twenty years of his life he was a devoted member of the Missionary Baptist Church. John M. Coleman was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty years old. He then bought his father's old homestead near White Plains, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was for four years one of the magistrates of the county. April. 9, 1836, he married Miss Martha A. Oates, a native of Muhlenburgh County, Ky. Of nine children, the fruit of this union, two sons and three daughters are living. Mrs. Martha A. Coleman died January 14, 1884, in her sixty-fifth year, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Coleman is a zealous member of the same church, and in politics a Republican. Compton Hutchison Morgan Townsend Ramsey REV. SAMUEL D. COMPTON was born in Hopkins County, Ky., March 10, 1829, and is a son of Thomas A. and Martha H (Hutchison) Compton, natives of Virginia, and of English descent. Thomas A. Compton, at the age of twenty-two years, about 1816, and while yet a single man, came to Hopkins County, Ky., where he bought wild land near Nebo, improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death in 1849, in his fifty-fifth year. He served during the latter part of the war of 1812, at Norfolk, Va. He was a natural mechanic, and, although he had never regularly learned any trade, he could turn his hand to almost any branch of mechanism, and made all his own wagons, agricultural implements and furniture. He was for many years an officer in the Kentucky State militia. He and wife were members of the Methodist episcopal Church. After her husband's death, however, Mrs. Martha A. Compton joined the Baptist Church, of which she was a member until her death in 1874, in her seventy-fourth year. Reuben Compton, the grandfather of our subject, was a veteran in the Revolutionary war, having served for over three years with Gen. Morgan's riflemen. After his father's death the care and support of his widowed mother devolved upon our subject, Samuel D. He continued to farm the home place on shares for several years, and in 1859 bought a part of the old homestead, to which he has added from time to time until he now owns a well improved farm of some 400 acres, where he is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He was a magistrate for this district for one term of four years. He was married February 23, 1859, to Miss Ella A. Townsend, a native of North Carolina and a daughter of Wilson and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Townsend. Eight children have blessed this union; four sons and three daughters are living. Mr. and Mrs. Compton are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he has been a licensed preacher for nearly thirty years, and a regularly ordained elder for more than fifteen years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, has advanced to the Royal Arch degree, and has been W. M. of his lodge. In politics, Mr. Compton is a Democrat. His eldest son, Theodore N. Compton, at the age of seventeen, was six feet and five inches in height, and weighed 210 pounds. He joined the church at the age of eleven, was licensed to preach at the age of sixteen, and regularly ordained at seventeen years of age. He has had official charge of three different churches, and is at present pastor of the Clayville Baptist Church, of Webster County, although only in his nineteenth year. Cotton Lindley Ransey MINOS R. COTTON was born in Christian County, Ky., June 21, 1841, and is the ninth of twelve children born to William and Sallie (Lindley) Cotton; the former was a native of North Carolina and the latter of Kentucky, and of English descent. When only seven years old, in 1813, William Cotton removed with his parents to Christian County, Ky., then almost unbroken wilderness. Here his father bought military lands, erected a log-cabin and subsequently improved a farm. William, after attaining his majority, bought wild land in Christian County, and subsequently improved a farm, to which he added from time to time until he was the owner of some 500 acres. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising, and also for a time in merchandising. His death occurred October 3, 1869, in his sixty-third year, and that of Mrs. Cotton in the following November. Both were members of the Christian Church. Minos R. Cotton's early life was passed on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in teaching, and taught and attended school for some six or seven years, by which persevering industry he became a good classical scholar. In 1868 he came to Hopkins County, Ky., where for several years he was engaged in the live stock trade, and the tobacco business. In 1875 he came to Madisonville, the county seat of Hopkins, where he erected a large tobacco stemmery, and has since been extensively engaged in the tobacco trade. He has the largest stemmery in the place, and does the most flourishing business in that ine in the city. Mr. Cotton also owns several well improved farms near Madisonville, and is prominently identified with the agricultural and stock interests of the county. He is at this writing a member of the council and treasurer of the city of Madisonville. He was married April 22, 1874, to Miss Nannie I. Ramsey, one of Kentucky's fairest daughters, a native of Hopkins County. One son has blessed this union -- Maurice R. Mr. Cotton is a member of and deacon in the Christian Church, and in politics is a Democrat. Mrs. Cotton is also a member of the Christian Church. Courtney Biggerstaff Williams Dulin Harlson WILLIAM B. COURTNEY was born April 16, 1846, in Christian County, Ky. He is a son of Thomas and Easter (Biggerstaff) Courtney. The father was born in Virginia and died in 1874, aged sixty-six. The mother was born in Muhlenburgh County, Ky., and died in 1853, in Christian County. The following year the family moved to Hopkins County. Our subject assisted on the farm until the age of twenty-three, when he engaged in the saw-mill business, which he has since continued. He is employed with Williams & Dulin, as head sawyer, and has general supervision of the business. No more competent and trustworthy man for this business could be found in the county. He was married in 1877 to Miss S. A. Harlson, of Muhlenburgh County. One daughter gladdens their home. Cox Pryer Chandler HEZEKIAH R. COX was born in what is now Webster County, Ky., September 27, 1844, and is the eldest of eight children born to Alexander B. and Martha A. (Pryer) Cox, the former a native of Webster County, Ky., and latter of the "Old Dominion," and of Irish and German descent respectively. Alexander B. Cox was married in Hopkins County, Ky. After attaining his majority he bought wild land in Webster County, Ky., and improved a farm upon which he resided for a number of years. He has followed farming and stock raising in Webster and Hopkins Counties all his life, still owning a well improved farm near Nebo. In the fall of 1883 he rented a farm and came to Nebo, where he is living a retired life. He and wife are and have been for many years, members of the Christian Church. Our subject, H. R., received a fair common school education in youth and has acquired a good, practical business education by his own exertions. When nineteen years old he engaged in farming on his own account, and continued the same for eleven years. In 1878 he rented his farm near Nebo, and engaged in the dry goods and grocery trade at that town, and has since been doing a thriving business. He carries a well-selected stock amounting to from $4,000 to $5,000, and his annual sales average about $8,000. He was married October 21, 1867, to Miss Martha J. Chandler, a native of Webster County, Ky. Eight children have blessed this union, four of whom -- one son and three daughters -- are living. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Christian Church. He is a Democrat. Cox Winstead Ramsey JOHN W. COX was born in Mecklenburgh County, Va., July 31, 1827, and is a son of Eli and Jane (Winstead) Cox; the former a native of the "Old Dominion," and the latter of North Carolina, of Irish and English descent respectively. Eli Cox was educated in his native State. He went to North Carolina, where he was married, but soon returned to Virginia, where in early life he engaged in merchandising and trading, and afterward in farming, which he continued until his death in 1846, in his fifty-second year. He was a veteran in the war of 1812. In 1848 the family removed to Hopkins County, Ky. John W. received but very little schooling in his youth, but acquired a good, practical business education by his own exertions. In 1852 he went to California to seek his fortune, and was not entirely unsuccessful. He was engaged in mining there three years, after which he returned to Kentucky, and bought 330 acres of wild land near Nebo. He has since improved the farm upon which he now resides, and to which he has added from time to time, now owning well-improved farms amounting to some 1,500 acres. He is one of the most extensisve and successful farmers and stock raisers in the county. For the past twelve years he has been extensively engaged in the tobacco trade, owning two large stemmeries in Nebo. He was married in 1856 to Miss Sarah A. Ramsey, a native of Hopkins County, Ky. Six children -- two sons and four daughters -- have blessed their union. Mr. Cox is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics a Democrat. Crafton Rutlidge Washington Littlepage Williams Dobins WILLIAM T. CRAFTON was born in Lunenburg County, Va., June 24, 1850, and is a son of Richard and Sallie (Rutlidge) Crafton, natives of the "Old Dominion," and of English descent. Richard Crafton was educated and married in his native State, and still lives on the farm where be was born. He is now in his eighty-seventh year, and has been all his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, James Crafton, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, having served under Washington throughout that struggle. Richard Crafton is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mrs. Crafton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. William T. Crafton was employed on his father's farm and in the stave business until he attained his majority, after which he continued the stave business on his own account in Virginia until July, 1872, when be came to Hopkins County, Ky., where he continued the same business for some six years. In 1878 he bought a farm near White Plains, Hopkins County, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits and in stock raising, making breeding and raising a specialty. He was married in December, 1878, to Mrs. Cynthia C. (Littlepage) Williams, a native of Hopkins County, Ky., and a daughter of Epps and Nancy A. (Dobins) Littlepage, who were among the early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Crafton have no children; Mrs. Crafton, however, has one son by her former marriage. Mr. Crafton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics a Democrat Craig Harralson Cox Winstead NOBLE A. CRAIG was born in Hopkins Counky, Ky., August 21, 1851, and is the youngest of nine children of Eden and Jane A. (Harralson) Craig, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina, and of Irish and English descent, respectively. At the age of twelve years, about 1816, Eden Craig removed to Kentucky with his parents, who settled near Lexington, where his father, Samuel Craig, bought a farm. After a few years the family moved to what is now Hopkins County, where Samuel Craig bought wild land near Madisonville and improved a farm, upon which he resided the remainder of his life. He erected one of the first grist-mills there, a horse-power mill. Eden Craig was married soon after attaining his majority, and shortly bought a partially improved farm near Nebo, upon which be resided until his death, May 7, 1869, in his sixty-fifth year. He and his wife were members of the Christian Church. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. June A. Craig died July 21, 1884, in her seventy-seventh year. Noble A. remained on the home farm until he was twenty years old, then engaged in saw-milling and the lumber business for two years, after which he went to Kansas, where he remained six months. He then returned to Kentucky, and has since resided on the old homestead, which he now owns, and where he is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married September 2 , 1875, to Miss Moilie E. Cox, a native of Hopkins County, Ky., and daughter of Charles W. Cox, a native of the same county. Two daughters have blessed their union, Grace L. and Janie B. Mrs. Craig is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Craig is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has held various official positions. He is a Democrat. Charles W. Cox was born in Hopkins County, Ky., April 20, 1831, and is one of eight children born to Champion S. and Sallie (Winstead) Cox, the former a native of the "Old Dominion," and the latter of North Carolina, of Irish and English descent, respectively. Champion S. Cox, when twelve years old, about 1811, came with his parents to what is now Hopkins County, Ky. There his father, William Cox, bought military lands, erected a cabin and improved a farm. On attaining his majority, Champion S. Cox bought a partially improved farm near Nebo, upon which he resided for a number of years, then sold out and bought another farm in the same neighborhood, where he resided until his death in 1853, in his fifty-fourth year. He and his wife were from youth devoted members of the Christian Church. Charles W. Cox remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he bought a farm near the old homestead, where he remained several years. He then sold out and bought wild land about five miles south of Nebo, where be improved a farm, on which he resided for seven years, after which be sold the place and again bought wild land, north-west of Nebo, where he improved the farm upon which be now resides, and where he is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married October 7, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth B. Harralson, a native of what is now Webster County, Ky. Thirteen children have blessed this union, ten of whom are living - six sons and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat Crow Hutchinson Compton Ramsey Hopgood JOHN W. CROW was born in Hopkins County,. Ky., November 11, 1836, and is a son of John S. and Nancy S. (Hutchinson) Crow, natives of Virginia, and of English and Irish descent, respectively. John S. Crow was educated and married in his native State. Being left an orphan at the age of thirteen years he was thrown upon his own resources, and in early life learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Virginia for several years. He served during the early part of the war of 1812 at Norfolk, Va. About 1813 or 1814 he came with his wife and family to Hopkins County, Ky.; he located on military lands near the present village of Nebo, and improved the farm upon which be resided until his death, January 28, 1877, in his eighty-eighth year. He and wife were for more than half a century members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, John W., was employed on his father's farm until the close of the late war, when he engaged in farming on his own account, on a farm which he had bought some years before adjoining the old homestead. Here he has since resided, engaged in farming and making the culture of tobacco a specialty. He was married in 1859 to Miss Nancy M Compton, a native of Hopkins County, Ky., who bore him five children - four sons and one daughter - all living. Mrs. Nancy M Crow died in May, 1874; the was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Crow's second marriage was December 20, 1880 to Mrs. Fannie P. (Ramsey) Hopgood. Two children have blessed their union - one son and one daughter; the son is living. Mrs. Fannie F. Crow died February 26, 1884, a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Crow is a Democrat Crow Townsend Reames W. D. CROW was born July 12, 1839, in Mecklenburgh County, Va., and is a son of U. S. and Jane (Townsend) Crow, both natives of the "Old Dominion." The father died in his native State in 1870, aged sixty-two, and the mother two years later, aged about sixty-five. W. D. was reared on his father's farm and received a good literary education. In 1869 be came to Hopkins County, and in 1873 removed to his present farm, consisting of 111 acres, largely improved. He enlisted in 1861 in the Fifth Battalion Heavy Artillery, Confederate States army, and served till the end of the war. He was elected justice of the peace in August, 1881, and is still serving in that capacity. Mr. Crow was married in 1867 to Martha S. Reames, of Virginia, and four sons and three daughters have blessed their union. Crowder Hudson Cates J. J. CROWDER, Hopkins County, was born October 16, 1850, in Dinwiddie County, Va., and is a son of John N. and Minerva J. (Hudson) Crowder. The father was born in the same county and State, and still resides there on his farm. The mother was born in Lunenburgh County, Va., and died in Dinwiddie County, June 14, 1865, aged thirty-four years. J. J. was reared on his father's farm, and received a good common school education. In 1872 he came to Hopkins County and worked seven years for John S. Crow, after which he rented a farm two years. In August, 1880, he bought his present farm of eighty-seven acres, mostly improved, on which he has recently completed a very comfortable residence. Mr. Crowder was married June 15, 1878, to Nancy S. Cates, of Hopkins County; they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Cullom Hooper Hughes DR. J. P. CULLOM, Hopkins County, was born March 10, 1848, in Robertson County, Tenn. He is a son of J. P. and Amanda (Hooper) Cullom, also natives of Tennessee. The father died in 1852; the mother now resides in Christian County. Our subject having received a good common school education in youth, at the age of seventeen commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. H. Hooper, of Davidson County, Tenn., and graduated in 1868, from the old University of Nashville, Tennessee, after which he came to Calloway County, Ky., where he practiced about five years. On account of ill health he returned to Tennessee, there remained two years; he then moved to Trigg County, Ky., where he practiced until 1880. He then moved to Hot Springs, Ark., and there practiced three years. May 1, 1884, he came to Dawson, where he has since been physician for the Arcadia Hotel. Guests from all parts of the United States are attracted to these wells; the water has a national reputation and is considered the finest combination in the world. The Doctor has fitted up, at a great expense, hot, cold, vapor, iron, salt, and electric baths - the electro-therapeutic bathing apparatus costing about $500; he has a patent heater that has a capacity of heating 250 gallons in thirty minutes; he has leased the salt well, and is about manufacturing salts water of the same medical properties as the Crab Orchard salts; the water produces one ounce to the gallon; the well produces about 100 pounds of salts per day, and the Doctor has under contemplation the establishment of a sanitarium at this point on an extended scale. He was married January 4, 1870, to Henrietta, daughter of the late R. D. Hughes, of Highland, Ky., and niece of Gen. S. P. Hughes, now governor of Arkansas; their union has been blessed with one child, Willie, now attending the South Kentucky College, Hopkinsville. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic faternity (sic) and I.0.0.F.