From: KyArchives [Archives@genrecords.org] Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 9:42 AM To: Ky-Footsteps Subject: Knifley.Joseph.H.1809.Adair-Taylor-Green.BIOS Joseph H. Knifley December 10, 1809 - Adair-Taylor-Green County KyArchives Biography Author: Kentucky Genealogy and Biography Volume V, Battle-Perrin-Kniffin, 4th ed., 1886. REV. JOSEPH H. KNIFLEY was born in what is now Taylor County, Ky., then (Green) County, December 10, 1809, and is the fourth of five children born to Philip and Sarah (Mourning) Knifley, who were of English and Irish descent respectively. Philip Knifley was born in Pennsylvania in 1777; while yet a young man he came to what is now the southeastern part of Taylor County Ky., but was at that time a part of Green County. Here he bought wild land and subsequently improved a farm, upon which he resided until 1814, when he sold out and bought another farm in the north part of Adair County, on Casey Creek, upon which he remained until his death, in August, 1862. From early life he was a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His father was most of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native State of Pennsylvania. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary war and died in Green County, Ky., aged nearly a hundred years. Mrs. Sarah (Mourning) Knifley was born in Ireland in about 1784; while yet a child, however, she came with her parents to what is now Taylor County, Ky. Her death occurred about 1818 or 1819. She was a life-long member of the Separate Baptist Church. Her father, Roger Mourning, was one of the earliest settlers of Taylor County. Rev. Joseph Knifley was employed on the home farm until he attained his majority, when he bought a farm on Casey Creek, near Rolla in Adair County, upon which he remained until about 1838, when he sold out and rented lands for some two years. He then bought the farm of 260 acres, some three miles farther down Casey Creek, upon which he has since resided, and where he has been for many years extensively and successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. He has for several years taken considerable interest in breeding blooded stock, both horses and cattle. For many years in ante bellum days, he was a captain in the old State militia. Mr. Knifley has been twice married; first, February 16, 1832, to Miss Sallie Martin, a native of Adair County, born February 7, 1812. She was a daughter of James and Jemima (Butler) Martin, both natives of Adair County, and of English descent. Five children were the fruit of this union, viz.: Eliza J. (Bland), now the widow of Charles H. Jones; Nancy E. (deceased), married Mr. R. M. Tucker; William W., Mary J., now Mrs. J. C. Dunbar; and Philip H. Mrs. Sallie Knifley departed this life January 10, 1863, a devoted member of the Christian Church. Mr. Knifley was next married, October 26, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth H. Lainhart, a native of Casey County, Ky., born December 8, 1827. She is a daughter of Christopher and Rebecca (Hight) Lainhart, natives of Madison and Casey Counties, Ky., respectively, and of English descent. Both Mr. Knifley and wife are members of the Christian Church, in which church he has been a regularly ordained minister for nearly half a century. He is also an old and bright member of the Masonic fraternity, having been a member of the order for over thirty-five years, and has advanced to the Council degree of R. & S. M. In politics he is a Republican, and is one of the successful farmers as well as one of the most respected citizens of the county and district. Submitted by: Sandi Gorin http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00002.html#0000404 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/