Subjects of Perrin, Battle & Kniffin 1885 Biographies
From: Kentucky, A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin. 2nd ed.,
1885, Webster Co.
DR. W.I. MOORE was born November 6, 1844, in Union, now Webster County,
Ky., and is a son of A.M.C. and Amanda (Eddings) Moore. The father was
born in Muhlenburgh [sic] County, and died in 1870, aged fifty. The mother
was born in Union County, and died in 1877, aged fifty. Our subject was
reared on his father's farm and received a good literary education; he
commenced the study of medicine at the age of eighteen, and three years
later studied under the preceptorship of Dr. Jeff Holeman, after which he
went to Louisville, and entered the Kentucky School of Medicine, from which
he graduated in 1870; he also received an honorary degree from the
University of Louisville; he then located in Clayville, where he has since
been actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. The Doctor
has lost but fifty days' practice since coming here. He has held the
office of deputy county clerk the past fourteen years. He is secretary of
the Webster County Medical Association, and is chairman of the board f
health in the county at this time, and has been a member of the United
Baptist Church since the age of eighteen, and is now moderator of that
body. The Doctor was married in 1867 to Miss Penelope J. Hammack, a native
of Union County. Three sons and two daughters have blessed their union.
Respective ages: Mary, sixteen, May 19, 1885; Lorney, eleven, March 3,
1885; Bain, nine, March 3, 1885; Leula, four, January 30, 1885; Steven
Compton, born April 4, 1885.
DR. DAVID MOREHEAD is a native of Union County, Ky., born November 30,
1821, and is a son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Parrick) Morehead. He is the
second of a family of eleven children, and is of Scotch-English origin.
His parents were born in Rutherford County, N.C.; his father was born in
1799. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a Virginian, and a soldier
in the Revolutionary war. The early life of Dr. Morehead was spent on the
farm. By great diligence, and through his own efforts, he secured a fair
common school education, and in 1841, began reading medicine; he studied
alone for some time, but afterward continued the study and commenced to
practice under the instruction of Dr. Rufus Linthicum. In 1858 he began
to practice on his own account, and has since been a successful physician.
In 1859 he settled where he now resides. He was married May 6, 1841, to
Miss Elizabeth N. Grayson, a native of Rutherford County, N.C., and a
daughter of Joseph and Lettice Grayson. This union has been blessed with
seven children: Letitia J., William W., Celia E., Samuel J., Enoch R.,
James D. and Joseph D. Dr. Morehead is a Democrat. He is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, having united with that denomination in
1836. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
WILL A. MORROW was born October 2, 1825, in Person County, N.C., and is a
son of John and Mary (Winstead) Morrow, both natives of the same county and
State. About 1840 the family came to Hopkins County, now Webster County,
and settled on the farm now owned by T.J. Jackson. The father died in
November, 1876, aged eighty-two. The mother died in 1850, aged fifty. Our
subject was reared on his father's farm, and in 1857 moved to his present
farm, which then consisted of 162 1/2 acres of land. This he has since
increased to 286 acres, largely improved. He was married in 1864, to Sarah
T. Cox, of Hopkins County. This union has been blessed with eight children
- five sons and three daughters.
CAMPBELL T. MOUNTS was born December 3, 1846, in Brooke County, W. Va., and
in 1859 removed with his mother to Hopkins (now Webster) County, Ky., where
he still continues to reside. He is the son of Daniel S. Mounts, who was
born in 1805, in Ohio County, W. Va., and died in 1857. Daniel S. was the
son of Providence Mounts, a native of Virginia, born near Washington, D.C.
His father was a Frenchman. Subject's mother, Temperance Mounts, of Brooke
County, W.Va., was born in 1812, and after the death of her husband, had
the care and responsibility of the family thrown onto her hands, and is now
enjoying an honored old age. To her and her husband were born Indiana
(Pratt and Hendricks), John M., Mary V. (Crowley), Campbell T., Temperance
R. (Parker) and Taylor D. Campbell T. married, October 28, 1879, Sudie,
daughter of Joel Parker of Webster County. Mr. Mounts is a successful
farmer, having 718 acres of fair land, in good condition and in a fine
state of cultivation. In his political sentiments he is a Republican.
GEORGE W. NALL was born December 12, 1834 in Hopkins County, Ky., and is a
son of George W. and Margaret (Holeman) Nall. The father was born in
Hopkins County, and died October 31, 1882, aged eighty-three; the mother
was born in Caldwell County, February 27, 1804 and died in 1854. Our
subject in youth received a liberal education; at the age of twenty he
settled on a tract of 100 acres of land given him by his father, and has
since increased this land from time to time, to about 400 acres, and it is
one of the best improved farms in his locality. In 1882 he built a barn
60x80 feet, at a cost of about $2,000; this barn is said to be the best
arranged of any in this part of the State. Mr. Nall was married in March
1856, to Martha Banks, of Union County; she died in January 1867, leaving
three sons and three daughters. October 30, 1867, Mr. Nall married Sarah
E. McClellan of Webster County. Two sons and four daughters have blessed
this union.
ALEXANDER NISWONGER was born in Webster County, Ky., November 16, 1860, to
John H. and Letitia (Coffman) Niswonger, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, and
of German descent. John H. Niswonger received a good classical education
in youth in his native State, where he was engaged in teaching for several
years. About 1848 he removed to Henderson County, Ky., where he taught for
a number of years; afterward he removed to what is now Webster County,
where he was married and engaged in farming for several years. In 1872 he
removed to Hopkins County, and bought a farm near Nebo, upon which he still
resides; he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Alexander Niswonger assisted on his father's farm until he attained his
majority, after which he farmed a part of the home place on shares for one
year. In 1882 he came to Providence, where he has since been successfully
engaged in the drug business, and general merchandising. He carries a well
selected stock of goods in his line, amounting to about $1,000; his annual
sales amount to about $6,000. Mr. Niswonger is yet unmarried. In politics
he is a Democrat.
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