My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 7 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1887.  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.

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COL. JAMES TAYLOR and his twin sister Keturah (who became Mrs. Horatio T. Harris) were born August 9, 1802, at Bellevue, adjoining the town of Newport, Ky. Col. Taylor’s father was Gen. James Taylor, and his mother was Keturah Leitch nee Moss, both pioneers from Virginia. His first school was the academy, about two miles from the town, under a celebrated teacher, the Rev. Robert Stubbs, who was a learned Englishman, and an Episcopal divine. He next attended the Pestalozzian School at Lexington, taught by Dr. Joseph Buchanan. In 1818 he entered Transylvania University, under the presidency of Dr. Holley, and graduated in 1822. After that he graduated at the Transylvania law school, and was admitted to the bar. Col. Taylor practiced chiefly as a land lawyer for his father and others in the State of Ohio. He possessed talents of a high order, and his richly stored mind and genial manners rendered him attractive in society. In his early life he was quite conspicuous as an amateur actor, and was up to old age noted for his brilliant style of recitation. In 1824 he married Miss Susan Lucy Barry, a daughter of the Hon. William T. Barry, of Lexington. They settled in Newport, and reared six children — three sons and three daughters. In politics Col. Taylor was a Whig. When that party expired he voted with Democrats. In the civil war he was a strong Union man. In religion he was an Episcopalian. After an active and useful life he died March 29, 1883, in the eighty-first year of his age, having survived his devoted wife a little more than a year.

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This family biography is one of 41 biographies included in the Campbell County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 7 published in 1887 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 7

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

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