Kentucky: A History of the State,
Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 1886.

Biographies
Allen County, KY

W

SYLVESTER H. WELCH was born in Allen County, Ky., April 9, 1831. His grandfather, Thomas Welch, was a native of the State of Virginia, and belonged to the religious sect known as Friends or Quakers. He came to Kentucky at an early day, and settled in what is now Allen County at about the time of its organization; during his lifetime he was engaged in farming; he died about the year 1830. Amasa Welch, the father of Sylvester H., was also a Virginian and a farmer. He came to Kentucky when a boy, with his parents, with whom he remained until he grew to manhood. In 1825 he married Sarah Lyles, who bore him six children, four of whom are living; her death occurred in 1853, and was the result of burns received from her clothing taking fire from an old-fashioned fireplace. Amasa was born in the year 1800, and died in 1863. He and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Sylvester H., at the age of sixteen, left the shelter of the parental roof, and set out in the world to gain his own living; up to that time he had few advantages for obtaining a school education, but his excellent home training was a great help, and he applied himself diligently to books during his spare hours, and at the age of twenty years he was familiar with the current literature of the day, and had become expert in the saddler's trade, which he followed in Scottsville until 1861, when he discontinued it and engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he has continued with success to the prsent time. From 1876 to 1882 he was, in connection with the mercantile business, engaged in the manuacture of spokes and handles; his factory employed from forty to fifty men. Mr. Welch has been thrice married; first, in 1853, to Martha W. Burton, who died in 1857, leaving two sons: Anthony and Plutarch, both of whom are now married and living in Allen County. His second marriage occurred in 1859, with Josephine Garing, of Allen County. At her death, in 1863, she left two sons: William T. and Lonnie. Mr. Welch's third marriage occurred in 1867, with Mary Virginia Garing, a sister of his second wife; this union is blessed with the birth of five children: Robert, Eddie, Harvey, Bessie and Paul, all of whom are living. Politically Mr. Welch is a Democrat. He takes little interest in politics, however; his time and attention are given to his business and the education and culture of the minds of his children. He and wife are life-long members of the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Welch is steward. He has taken a deep interest in the erection of the handsome church edifice that now adorns the village of Scottsville. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1866, and now occupies the master's chair in Graham Lodge, No. 208.

SQUIRE SAMUEL M. WHITE, Cedar Spring, was born August 16, 1827, in Barren County, Ky., where he grew to manhood. In 1856 he located in the northeastern portion of Allen County, where he has since resided. His father, Joseph White, a native of Hanover County, Va., removed to Barren County, Ky., in 1812; was a farmer and mechanic, and died March 7, 1864, at the age of eighty-five years. He was the son of Henry White, of Virginia, who died in Barren County. Joseph White espoused in marriage Elizabeth, daughter of John M. Tilford, of Barren County, born May 9, 1799, still living, and from their union sprang Elisha T., Margaret K. (White), John M., Samuel M., Mary E., Joel, Betsey A. (Settle) and Susan F. (Nuckels). Squire White, on the 15th of August, 1850, married Mary F., daughter of Robert W. and Matilda (Mathews) Ralston, of Barren County, born January 1, 1832, and to them have been born Amanda J. (Goodnight), Henry J., Matilda E., Julia A., Eliza J. (Richey), Emily F., John T., Samuel H. and Adam B. In the beginning of their united career Mr. and Mrs. White had an even start with the world, commencing at the bottom round of fortune's ladder, and by industry, frugality and close attention to business have accumulated a comfortable competency. Mr. White served as magistrate and member of the court of claims of Allen County for a term of four years, and declined a re-election at the end of that time. He engaged in the wheelwright business for many years, at which he met with encouraging success. He also carried on a nursery for a period of over ten years. He is now engaged in farming and fruit-growing, having 133 acres of productive and well-improved land, in fair condition, and in a high state of cultivation. His orchard is one of the finest in southern Kentucky, and aside from younger trees, he has 800 bearing apple-trees, 1,200 grapevines, and a superior selection and large variety of other fruits. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., having frequently acted as Master of the lodge, and filled other positions in the same. Mr. White is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

DR. MARCELLUS WHITNEY was born February 6, 1854, near Pageville, Barren Co., Ky. In 1859 he removed with his parents to Warren County, and in 1870 he located in the northern part of Allen County, where he has since resided. His father, James E. Whitney, a native of Barren County, born in 1825, is a farmer, and lost about fifteen slaves by the war. He is the son of Thomas Whitney, a native of South Carolina, who was a planter and died in Warren County, in 1860, aged seventy-six years. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. James E. Whitney, in 1853, married Jemima F., daughter of John and Agnes (Whitney) Martin, of Barren County, and their offspring are Dr. Marcellus, Katherine A. and Mattie (deceased). Dr. Whitney was favored with a good English education. He married, December 26, 1883, Margaret E., daughter of George W. and Nancy (Stark) Jewell, of Barren County, Ky. (born December 28, 1858), and one daughter - Nancy Jewell - has blessed this union. George W. Jewell was born June 7, 1825, and died March 25, 1884. Nancy J. Jewell was born January 5, 1839; died September 13, 1881, and to them were born Margaret E., America F. (Oliver), Virginia T. (deceased), George D. and Merene. In 1878 Dr. Whitney commenced the study of medicine with Dr. H. Fitzpatrick, of Gainesville, and the same year attended lectures at the medical department of the Vanderbilt University of Nashville, where he graduated in 1880. He then returned to Gainesville and engaged in the practice of his profession, in which his efforts have been crowned with success. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity; is not connected with any Christian denomination, and in politics is a Democrat.

ISAAC N. WILLIAMS was born December 3, 1822, and has ever since resided on the farm where he was born in Allen County. His father, Langston Williams, was a native of South Carolina (born in Spartanburgh County, July 11, 1772). He came to Kentucky about 1795, and later married Ruth McElroy, whose parents, James and Fanny McElroy, were natives of South Carolina. Langston Williams was a successful farmer, which vocation he followed during life; he died Setember 10, 1840. His widow survived until September 30, 1870; her age was eighty-seven years. She was a member of the Baptist Church and died in that faith. The names of the children are Rebecca (Ragland), Fannie (Williams), Sarah (Thompson), George W., Benjamin H., Thomas T., John M. (deceased), Richard H., Nancy V. (Wright), Elizabeth M., Isaac N., James F. and Irene J. (Hinton). Langston Williams was a soldier in the war of 1812; he was a son of Thomas Williams, who was of English and Scotch parentage, and a native of North Carolina. He married Miss Langston, and lived and died in his native state. James McElroy was born Septembr 21, 1759; died in 1858. He served as a courier and aide to Washington in the Revolution; was engaged in the battles of King's Mountain, N. C., and Cowpens, Va.; married April 16, 1782, Fannie Langston, and to their union were born ten children, of which number our subject's mother, Ruth, was the fourth. Isaac N. Williams was eighteen years old when his father died, and from that time he took charge of the farm, and with his younger brother took care of their mother until her death. He has been very successful in agricultural pursuits. His farm of 333 acres of the choice land of the section is well kept and improved with excellent buildings, and one of the best orchards in the county. Mr. Williams' farm is well adapted to grass; he gives much attention to stock of which he owns some of the best. He married, on the 6th of June, 1871, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Nancy Griffin, who were descended from English parentage and were Virginians, born in Culpeper County. Mrs. Williams is a lady of rare attainments, and their married life has been happy, though childless. They are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Williams' view on political affairs are libral. He is a public-spirited citizen without political aspirations. His father was one of the first settlers of Kentucky, and located in Allen County, on the east side of Trammel's Creek in 1797, where he planted the first orchard in the country, in 1803 or 1804. Some of the old trees are yet standing; they were grafted on sycamore stubs and some of them have attained enormous proportions, measuring three and one-half feet in diameter.

JOHN L. WILLIAMS was born in Allen County, Ky., on the 22d of July, 1856. He is a farmer and the son of a farmer. His father, James Franklin Williams, who is also a native Kentuckian, was born in 1824, and has been thrice married; his first wife was Jane Black, of Allen County, Ky.; to this marriage were born four children: Robert B., Lucinda G. Dinwoody, Mary J. (deceased), and Sarah E. (deceased). His second marriage took place with Martha E., daughter of John Briley, of Allen County. To this marriage were born four children: John L., Amanda A. (Patton), Margaret J. (Gardner) and William B. N. His third wife (Mary D. Patton) is yet living, aged about sixty years. James F. Williams has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been very successful; his farm is one of the best in his section. He is now sixty-one years of age. John L. Williams in early life attended such schools as were afforded in his home district, where he laid the foundation for a fair English education, and his contact with the affairs of life has made him conversant with the literature of the day, and disciplined him in business. At the age of twenty-four he married Luella Duncan, daughter of Sanford and Kittie A. Duncan, of Allen County; she was born April 19, 1860, and their marriage took place in 1880. She departed this life April 16, 1882; her only son, Robert B., died February 11, 1882, in infancy. After his marriage Mr. Williams and his brother, William B. N., took charge of their father's farm, which they have operated successfully since. The farm contains 200 acres; 125 acres are in cultivation and well improved with fences, buildings and orchards. The water privileges are very good and the land is admirably adapted to grass, and supports some of the best stock in the county. Socially Mr. Williams commands the resepct and esteem of all who know him; he is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat, but not a political aspirant, and lends a willing hand to the assistance of his friends and the improvement of the community. Robert B. Williams, the eldest son of James Franklin Williams, was a graduate of the Louisville Medical College, and died in Memphis, Tenn., to which place he had gone to treat cases of yellow fever.

SIDNEY F. WILLIAMS was born April 13, 1843, on Sulphur Creek, Allen Co., Ky., where he was reared to mahood and now resides. On August 27, 1863, he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-second Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and was honorably discharged January 17, 1865. The officers of the company were John M. Billingsly, captain; Willis Mitchell, first lieutenant, and Tom Lee, second lieutenant. Mr. Williams' father, Richard T. Williams, a native of Charlotte County, Va., was born 1808, and died November 11, 1885. He was the son of Mastin Williams, of Virginia, who removed to Allen County, Ky., about 1820, where he died, 1850, at a great age. Richard T. was thrice married; first, to Sarah V., daughter of Henry Holman, of Barren County. She died, September 11, 1865, aged about fifty years, the mother of the following children: Susan F. (deceased), Eliza A. (Shields), John W., Sidney F., James C. and Benjamin T. His second wife was Mrs. Nancy Welch, nee Warden, whose memory is greatly revered by her step-children. After her death Richard T. married Victoria Spillman, to whom was born one child, Robert F. In the commencement of his business career Sidney F. had to rely upon his own strong arm, and by industry and good management has attained to comfortable circumstances. He married, November 22, 1866, Elizabeth H., daughter of Hiram and Parthena (Williams) Ashley, of Allen County (born May 24, 1845), and to them have been born Richard H. (deceased), Emily S. (deceased), Charlie F., Carpenie L., Clay S. and Andrew L. Mr. Williams is a farmer, having 240 acres of well improved, productive land. In politics he is a Republican

GEORGE Y. WILSON was born in Allen County, November 28, 1853, where he grew up. His father, Benjamin P. Wilson, was born March 10, 1810. He was a son of George Wilson, of Virginia, who was of Irish descent. Benjamin Wilson was married March 1, 1830, to Lethe, daughter of Yancy and Mary (Dillon) Turner, of Sumner County, Tenn., who was born December 22, 1814. He started in life at the bottom of the ladder, but by industry, economy and perserverance, he accumulated a fine property and became the owner of a well improved farm of 200 acres, in good condition and a fine state of cultivation. He was for eight terms assessor of Allen County, during which time he received a premium for having the best-kept assessor's books in the State. He was a magistrate and member of the court of claims of Allen County for three terms, and was, besides, for four years county judge of his native county. In 1830 he was converted and joined the Methodist Church, in which he was, in 1831, licensed to exhort, and in 1837 was licensed to preach, and afterward was ordained, in 1847, as a deacon, by Bishop Janes, and as elder by Bishop Paine, in 1854. From 1837 up to within a short time of his death, which took place April 25, 1877, he labored constantly and earnestly as a minister of the Gospel, meeting with great success. He had seven children, of whom George Y. is the youngest. He was possessed in his youth of fair opportunities and has obtained a fair English education; he is a moral man, not at present a member of any church organization, but is a Methodist in belief, and in politics is a Democrat.