Subjects of Perrin, Battle & Kniffin 1885 Biographies
From: Kentucky, A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin. 2nd ed.,
1885, Webster Co.
JAMES L. MELTON was born in what was formerly Henderson, now Webster
County, Ky., March 19, 1823, and is a son of Samuel N. and Sarah (Mooney)
Melton. He is the fourth in a family of nine children, and is of
German-English descent. His parents were both natives of North Carolina,
but in early life immigrated to Kentucky. The father of subject proved to
be a valuable acquisition to the pioneers of western Kentucky. The father
of subject proved to be a valuable acquisition to the pioneers of western
Kentucky; he manufactured salt at what is still known as Knob Lick and
Highland Lick, and was one of the first salt manufacturers in this part of
the State. The pioneers came for miles to exchange venison hams for salt,
and he carried on quite an extensive traffic in this line. The regular
price for salt was $1 per bushel. He died at Highland Lick about 1836, and
the mother of our subject died near the same place some time afterward.
James L. has been a farmer from boyhood. In 1849 he settled where he now
resides, and now owns 600 acres of good land, the greater part of which is
in a high state of cultivation. He was married, June 26, 1851, to Miss
Elizabeth Humphrey, a native of Muhlenburgh [sic] County, Ky., daughter of
Rawley Humphrey. This marriage has been blessed with ten children: Samuel
W. (deceased), Sarah J., John W., Mary D. (deceased), Andrew J., Rawley E.,
James M., Elizabeth A., Vitula and Thomas J. Mrs. Melton died August 24,
1882. Mr. Melton is a Democrat, and is one of the few now living that have
spent more than fifty years in what is now Webster County.
JAMES MELTON was born January 19, 1849, in what is now Webster County, Ky.,
and is a son of R.A. and Sarah A. (Shelton) Melton. The father was born in
Henderson County, Ky.; he died May 3, 1879, aged sixty-three. The mother
was born in North Carolina; she died in April, 1883. Our subject owns his
present farm, which consists of 144 acres of land. He was married in 1870
to Catherine Mabery, of Webster County; she died April 11, 1877, leaving
three children: John T., born July 10, 1871; Samuel R., born December 15,
1873; and Jennie B., October 6, 1875. Mr. Melton's second marriage in
March, 1878, to Mary Mitchell, of Webster County. There is one son living
by this union - James J., born September 20, 1882.
JOSEPH MITCHELL was born January 17, 1848, in what is now Webster County,
Ky. He is a son of Joseph B. and Sarah E. (Barnes) Mitchell, natives of
North Carolina. January 1, 1840, they immigrated to Union County, and
engaged in agricultural pursuits. The father died October 25, 1871, aged
fifty-four. The mother was born January 5, 1818, and is now living with
her son Joseph, who was reared on this farm. In youth the latter received
a good common school education, and is well informed on all topics of the
day; he now owns this farm, consisting of 146 acres, and one-half of which
is improved. He is a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.
JOHN MONTGOMERY, Jr., was born in what is now Webster County, Ky., October
4, 1828, a son of Samuel and Rebecca B. (Givens) Montgomery, natives of
Kentucky, the former of Franklin and the latter of Lincoln County, and of
Irish descent. When six or seven years old, about 1804, Samuel Montgomery
removed with the parents to Henderson County, Ky. After a very few years
the family came to what is now Webster County, where his father, John
Montgomery, Sr., bought wild land near Providence and improved a farm, upon
which he resided until his death. He served under Gen. Anthony Wayne
during the Indian wars in Indiana, and was wounded in the left arm in one
of those engagements. Samuel received his early education and was also
married in Webster County. After attaining his majority he bought wild
land adjoining the old homestead, and improved a farm upon which he resided
until his death in 1862, in his sixty-seventh year. He engaged in
flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for several years; shipping
live stock, tobacco and produce to New Orleans. In the spring of 1815,
just after the battle of New Orleans, he made a trip down the rivers with a
flat-boat to New Orleans, and accomplished the return journey on foot in
sixteen days. He and wife were life long members of the United Baptist
church. Our subject was employed on his father's farm until he attained
his majority, and in April, 1852, started for California, accomplishing the
entire distance on foot, driving an ox team. Four months were consumed in
making the journey. In California he was engaged in farming for four
years, and returned to Kentucky in 1856. He then bought a farm near
Providence, and was engaged farming and flat-boating to New Orleans for
several years. In 1864 he embarked in the general mercantile business at
Providence and continued for ten years. During most of this time he was
also engaged in the tobacco business, which he carried on until 1882, when
he retired from active business. He erected the buildings and founded the
home school and normal institute of Providence and continued for ten years.
During most of this time he was also engaged in the tobacco business, which
he carried on until 1882, when he retired from active business. He erected
the buildings and founded the home school and normal institute of
Providence, where Mrs. Montgomery is and has been for years engaged in
teaching. Mr. M. was married in January, 1858, to Miss Linda M. Parker, a
native of Webster County, Ky., who bore him eight children, five of whom -
three sons and two daughters - are living. Mrs. Linda M. died October 8,
1870. She was a member of the United Baptist Church. Mr. Montgomery's
second marriage was, December 20, 1871, to Miss Myra A. Woodward, a native
of Davidson County, Tenn. He and wife are members of the United Baptist
Church; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having advanced to the
S.M. degree of the council. In politics he is a Democrat.
THOMAS G. MONTGOMERY was born June 26, 1831, in what is now Webster County,
Ky., but was then a part of Hopkins County, and is a son of Samuel and
Rebecca B. (Givens) Montgomery. He was employed on his father's farm until
he attained his majority, after which he bought a partially improved farm,
a part of his grandfather's old farm, upon which he still resides, and to
which he has continued to add from time to time, now owning well improved
farms amounting, in the aggregate, to 400 acres. For the past twenty-two
years he has been quite entensively [sic] engaged in the live stock trade,
and during the war he was engaged in the tobacco business to some extent.
In 1857, in company with a younger brother, he manufactured a flat-boat
load of staves, and ran them down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New
Orleans in the following year. Mr. Montgomery was never sued in his life,
neither has he ever been a witness or grand juror. He was married,
November 31, 1853, to Miss Martha E. Hunter, a native of the town of
Providence. Nine children were the fruit of this union, of whom five sons
and two daughters are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are members of
the United Baptist Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
having advanced to the Royal Arch degree, and is at present W.M. of his
lodge. In politics he is a Democrat.
SIDNEY CARTER MOORE, Webster County, was born September 25, 1826, in Person
County N.C., where he was reared to manhood; he removed to Hopkins County,
Ky., in 1850, and in 1852 came to Webster County, where he now resides.
His father, Richard R. Moore, a native of North Carolina, died about 1836,
at the age of forty-five years. He was the son of John Moore, of North
Carolina. Richard R. married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Evans, of North
Carolina, and to them were born David R., Thomas E., subject and William P.
Subject's mother subsequently married Samuel Yarbrough, and to them were
born DeWitt C., and Elizabeth (Jones). October 21, 1847, our subject
married Miss Ann J., daughter of John and Sarah (Davies) Lunsford of Person
County, N.C. (born August 14, 1831); this union has been without issue, but
Mr. Moore is rearing two orphans: Mary Adelia and Irwin M. Vaughan. Subject
followed farming very successfully until 1863, since that time he has found
profitable employment as merchant, broker, general trader and real estate
agent, all of which have contributed to a handsome competency. In politics
he is a Democrat and the family are members of the Christian Church.
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