Subjects of Perrin, Battle & Kniffin 1885 Biographies
From: Kentucky, A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin. 2nd ed.,
1885, Webster Co.
PROF. JACOB A. RUDY was born in what is now Webster County, Ky., January
24, 1851, a son of George A. and Harriet N. (Givens) Rudy, the former a
native of Henderson and the latter of Hopkins County, Ky., of German and
English descent, respectively. George A. Rudy was married in Hopkins
County, but soon returned to Henderson where he engaged in farming for
several years. In 1849 he moved to what is now Webster County, and bought
a farm one-half mile east of Providence, upon which he resided until his
death, June 6, 1870, in his fifty-fourth year. In 1861 he took a very
active part in the organization of Webster County. He and wife were
devoted members of the United Baptist Church. He was also a member of the
Masonic fraternity, having arrived at the R.A. degree, and served his lodge
as W.M. Jacob A. received a good common school education in his youth, and
by close application to his studies, he acquired an excellent English and
scientific education. He engaged in teaching at the age of nineteen years;
for several years taught in the public schools, during the winter and
superintended the home farm during the summer season. In the fall of 1881,
he was appointed principal of the Home School of Providence, Ky., which
position he still holds. He is a member of the United Baptist church. He
is yet unmarried. In politics he is a Democrat.
W.J.F. RUSSELL was born September 24, 1842, in what is now Webster
County,Ky., and is a son of John and Permelia (Duncan) Russell. The father
was born in Tennessee; is long since deceased. The mother was born in
North Carolina, and is now living in Webster County, Ky. About 1820 they
immigrated to Kentucky. Our subject, at the age of twenty-one, engaged in
farming on fifty-five acres of land, given him by his father, and from this
small beginning, has accumulated 270 acres, largely improved. Mr. Russell
was married August 27, 1863, to Sarah F. Johnson, of Webster County, Ky.
This union has been blessed with five children, of whom one son and two
daughters are living. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Christian
Church.
F.M. RUSSELL was born February 23, 1846 in Henderson County, Ky. He is a
son of Elisha and Nancy (Duncan) Russell, of North Carolina. Our subject,
at the age of eighteen, commenced farming on rented land; there he remained
two or three years, after which he bought seventy-six acres, which he has
since occupied. In 1882 he built a comfortable residence, at a cost of
about $500. Mr. Russell was married in 1864 to Harriet Duncan, who was
born in Henderson County. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the General
Baptist Church and he of the Masonic fraternity.
JOHN W. SMITH was born June 3, 1847 in Union County, Ky., and is a son of
Hiram H. Smith who was born September 12, 1807, in Lincoln County, now
Boyle County, Ky. His parents moved to the neighborhood at the present
site of Nebo, and bought 700 acres of land, where they engaged in farming.
About 1827 the father of our subject moved to Union County, and engaged in
farming, but on account of ill health gave up farming and engaged in
merchandising. In 1840 he was elected to the legislature and re-elected in
1860. In January, 1861, he removed to Dixon, and was elected circuit
clerk, but failed to qualify on account of military interference. He was
appointed by the court master commissioner and trustee of the jury fund,
and was at one time president of the Farmers Bank of Webster County. He is
now living a retired life at Dixon. John W. Smith, at the age of fourteen
years, hired out as a farm hand, and worked in that capacity about two
years. He then lived on a rented farm about one year, after which he
bought twenty acres of land and continued farming, and, as means would
allow, added to his possessions, and now owns about 600 acres of improved
land, with a comfortable residence and out-buildings. He enlisted, in
1861, in the Confederate army, and served about one year. Mr. Smith was
married in February, 1864, to Mary Mooney, of Webster County. This union
has been blessed with eight children - four sons and four daughters. Their
eldest son, Charles M., is now attending a second term at the St. Louis
Medical College, with a view of becoming a member of the medical
profession.
H.SOKOLSKI of Webster County, was born March 10, 1834, in Poland. In 1861
he came to New York, and there remained three years; he then removed to
Brown County, Ohio, and engaged in merchandising three years, after which,
he went to Huntington, W. Va., and then came to Madisonville, where he was
engaged in merchandising seven years. In 1878 he removed to Clay, where he
has since been engaged in merchandising, doing a business of about $20,000
a year. When in Madisonville, his annual business was about $15,000. On
his arrival in America he had but 20 cents left; he has now placed himself
in comfortable circumstances, which he has attained by strict attention to
business and judicious management. He thinks his life is an example of
what can be done in the country of his adoption. He was married in 1876 to
Rosa Blustean, of Columbus, Ind. This union has been blessed with four
children, three now living - two sons and one daughter: Abe, born November
12, 1877; Yetta, September 19, 1879, and Aaron, January 29, 1883.
DR. JAMES T. SOYARS, of Webster County, was born January 11, 1838, in
Christian County, Ky., removed in 1847 with his father to Hopkins County,
where he was reared, and in 1861 enlisted in Company A, First Kentucky
Cavalry, and after serving on Gen. Helm's staff and in the secret service,
was captured, and released in 1864. His father, Col. John Soyars, a native
of Pittsylvania County, Va., was born in 1805; removed to Kentucky in 1832,
and died in 1871. He was the son of James Soyars, of Pittsylvania County,
Va., who entered the Revolutionary army at the age of sixteen, and served
four years; was at Valley Forge with Washington; marched three days
barefoot on ice, with frozen feet; was wounded, captured and paroled near
the close of the war, and returned to his home, where he died in 1845, aged
eighty years. He was twice married, and the father of nine sons and seven
daughters, all of whom reared families. He was magistrate, high sheriff
and representative sixteen years in his county. Having served under Gen.
Lafayette, he was one of the committee of reception during that gentleman's
last visit to America. James' father, an Englishman, a civil engineer, was
lost with a surveying part in the West. John married Elizabeth, daughter
of Enoch and Elizabeth Cannon, of Halifax County, Va. (born in 1805 and
died in 1844), and from their union sprang Edward C. (deceased), subject,
Mary F. (Orton) and two infants. Dr. James T. Soyars was married December
12, 1871 to Miss Medora, daughter of William A. and Catherine (Harding)
Oglesby (born July 20, 1850), of Daviess County, and to them have been born
six children, four of whom died in infancy, while Mary I. and Ione M. are
now living. In 1858 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. D.A.
DeForest, of Ashbysburgh, Ky., and in 1869 attended lectures at Starling
Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in 1861. In 1864 he
located at Slaughterville, where he has since enjoyed a lucrative practice.
He has been advanced ten degrees in the order of A.F.& A.M. and is now High
Priest of the chapter. In politics he is a Democrat.
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