Subjects of Perrin, Battle & Kniffin 1885 Biographies
From: Kentucky, A History of the State. Perrin, Battle & Kniffin. 2nd ed.,
1885, Webster Co.
CHARLES W. SPENCER was born April 13, 1850, in Tioga County, N.Y. In 1869
he came to Kentucky, and settled in Webster County. He followed the
carpenter's trade, also farming, until 1881, when he opened a small store,
with a capital of less than $100. His trade has since rapidly increased,
and he now carries a stock of about $2,000. He is postmaster, having been
appointed in 1879. He was married, in 1874, to Miss Mary A. Curlee, of
Webster County, Ky. This union has been blessed with five children, of
whom one son and one daughter are living.
FREDERICH W. STIMAN, son of Frederich W. and Hannah L. Stiman, is a native
of Minden, Prussia, and was born November 2, 1836. He learned the
cabinet-maker's trade in the Fatherland, and there, also, was trained in
those strict habits of industry, economy and sobriety, which crown life's
labors with success in every clime. He was early attached to, and educated
under, the fostering care of the Lutheran Church, and in 1854 came to the
United States, landing at New Orleans, and in 1855 commenced business at
Slaughterville. He was present at the laying-off of the village, in 1867,
and is now its oldest resident. He was its first police judge; twelve
years its postmaster, and has ever taken an active and enterprising
interest in its progress. On January 1, 1862, he was married to Miss
Martha J., daughter of Sebron Reynolds, of Hopkins County, Ky., (born in
1841 and died in 1867), and to them were born William V., John G.
(deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), and Annie (deceased). Subject was next
married, June 15, 1868, to Mrs. Sidnie A. Crawley, daughter of James and
Mary Prather, and from this union sprang five children: Mary O., Ludie H.,
and James T., living; Annie and Elizabeth, deceased. Judge Stiman has
occupied various positions of honor and trust among his fellow citizens.
He is now engaged in the manufacture and sale of wagons, plows and farming
implements. He has been successful in business, and has bright hopes of
the future. In addition to this business he owns a farm of 250 acres of
fine land, in a good state of cultivation. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and affiliates with the Democratic party.
HENRY STROTHER was born May 17, 1860, in Butler County, Ky., a son of Dr.
John F. and Mary E. (Simmons) Strother. The father has been a resident of
Rochester, Ky., the past thirty-five years, engaged in the practice of
medicine. He is a graduate of Nashville and Louisville Medical Colleges
and stands at the head of his profession, his practice extending over the
counties of Butler, Logan, Muhlenburgh [sic] and Ohio. The mother died in
1863. Our subject was reared in Rochester, and in 1880 attended the
Cumberland University, taking a select course of studies. The following
year, he, with D. Poole, opened a drug and grocery store, which they
carried on a short time. He then moved to Morgantown, where he carried on
the drug and grocery business about eighteen months. In June, 1884, he
came to Dixon, and has since been engaged in the grocery and hardware
business there. While in Morgantown, he was for a time deputy county
clerk.
ROBERT CALVIN TAPP was born March 18, 1856, on the place where he now
resides, in Hopkins County, Ky. His father, Vincent Tapp, a native of
Person County, N.C., was born in 1825, and removed with his parents, in
1833, to Hopkins County, Ky., where he died in 1865. He was a merchant and
farmer. He was the son of Eli Tapp, who was born in North Carolina in
1797, and died in 1852. His wife, Sarah Lunsford, daughter of Jesse and
Elizabeth Lunsford, was born in Person County, N.C., 1797, died 1841.
Vincent married Emily O., daughter of Waller and Elizabeth (Barr)
Pritchett, of Hopkins County (born in 1831), and to them were born
Elizabeth L., wife of W.C. Brown, and subject, R.C. Tapp, who was married
December 4, 1878, to Miss Lula, daughter of Thomas M. and L.J. (Ashby)
Jones, of Hopkins County (born March 30, 1861), and this union has been
blessed with two children, viz.: Willis and Hal Jackson. Our subject is a
farmer, owning 150 acres of good land, in a fine state of cultivation, on
which he successfully grows tobacco and the cereals of the country. He
also takes a progressive interest in improved breeds of live stock. Mr.
Tapp is identified in politics with the Democratic party.
PIGMAN TAYLOR, M.D., was born in Ohio County, Ky., February 28, 1825; son
of Harrison and Philenia (Pigman) Taylor, the former a native of Virginia,
the latter a native of Maryland and of Irish and English descent,
respectively. At the age of eleven years Harrison Taylor came with his
parents to what is now Ohio County, Ky., where his father, Richard Taylor,
located military lands (on a part of which the town of Hartford now
stands), and improved a farm. Richard Taylor was the first merchant in the
town of Hartford, being for a time engaged in merchandising in connection
with farming. During the latter part of his life, he was also engaged in
the distilling business. He was elected three times to the lower house of
the Kentucky legislature. He was a second cousin of Gen. Zachariah Taylor.
Harrison Taylor was employed on his father's farm until he was of age, when
he bought wild land about six miles east of Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky., and
improved a farm upon which he resided until about 1870, when he sold out
and afterward made his home with one of his daughters, Mrs. Sarah A.
Anstain, until his death in December, 1878. When the Green River was
locked and dammed, he had the contract for removing the timber from the
river's mouth up to Bowling Green. He was a veteran of the war of 1812,
and sheriff of Ohio County for one term, under the old constitution.
Pigman Taylor, at the age of nineteen years, began the study of medicine
under Drs. Moore and Hart, of Hartford, Ky. In 1846-47, he attended the
medical department of the Louisville University, and, in the spring of
1848, commenced the practice of his profession at Fordsville, Ohio Co.,
Ky. In January, 1849, he removed to the western part of Hopkins County,
where he practiced about ten years. In March, 1859, he came to Providence,
Webster Co., Ky., where he has since practiced his profession. The Doctor
was married, in 1851, to Miss Almedia S. Anderson, a native of Christian
County, Ky. Eight children have blessed their union, four of whom, two
sons and two daughters are living. His eldest son, John H., is also a
physician, and is practicing with him. John H. is a graduate of the
medical department of Vanderbilt University, of Nashville, Tenn. Dr. P.
Taylor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Royal Arch Degree. He is a
Democrat.
J.E. TIMMONS, Webster County, general manager of the Rosebank Nurseries, of
Nashville, Tenn., is a native of Hopkins County, Ky.; was born December 23,
1847; is a son of George E. and Eliza (Miller) Timmons, and is of
French-English descent. His paternal grandfather, George Timmons, was a
captain in the war of the Revolution. The parents of our subject were
Kentuckians, born in Hopkins county. J.E. was thrown upon his own
resources at the age of fourteen, and in 1861 began the fruit tree
business, which he has since continued; he now has control of forty men,
and is doing an extensive business in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
He did a business of $40,000 in 1883. He came to Sebree in 1881, and still
resides here. In 1868, Mr. Timmons was married to Miss Arena Ashby of
Hopkins County. They have four children, viz.: Ella H., Agnes, Lizzie and
Jerome W. Mrs. Timmons is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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