My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

JOHN DAVIS was born January 8, 1835, in Graves County, Ky., and is the fourth of six children born to John F. and Pernicia (Perkins) Davis, natives of Livingston County, Ky., and of Irish and Dutch descent respectively. He was reared on a farm and attended the common school but very little; he was quite small when his mother died; his father was one of the first settlers of the Purchase and died in May, 1883, aged eighty-four. When our subject was but seven years old he went to Logan County, Ky., where he lived with his uncle (S. N. Davis) till he was nineteen years old. When he returned to Ballard County, he settled in the neighborhood of where he now resides and where he engaged in farming and trading. He has been very successful in life, having started with little or no means, but by his industry and perseverance has established a home of 1,400 acres of land, 600 or 700 of which are improved. He has always sought a quiet life, and never sought to obtain notoriety by dabbling in politics. He was married February 8, 1862, to Sarah Ashbrook, of Ballard County, a daughter of James and Margaret Ashbrook, of Irish origin. He has had born to him by this union nine children: James W., Silas M., Florence, Sallie B., John, Rob Lee, Fannie May, Clada E. and Mandy I.; the last two are twins. Subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Mason. He cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, and is still a Democrat.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 186 biographies included in the Ballard County, Kentucky section of The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Ballard County, Kentucky family biographies here: Ballard County, Kentucky Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.