My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book, 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.

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JAMES R. SKAGGS was born February 15, 1843, in Todd County, Ky., and is the sixth of the seven children born to Eli and Margaret (Manion) Skaggs, natives of Missouri and Todd County, Ky., respectively, and of Irish descent. His mother died in 1850, his father in 1852, and thus our subject was thrown upon his own resources early in life. He came to Ballard County about 1857, and lived with his cousin, John Manion, until the letter’s death in 1863. In January, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Third Kentucky (Confederate) Cavalry, under Capt. W. L. Stevenson, Holt colonel commanding, and took part in the battle of Harrisburg, and three or four other fights in Alabama, and was also at Memphis and Nashville; at Owensboro, he was wounded in the right and left shoulders, and also received a wound in the head during a skirmish elsewhere. After Forrest’s surrender he returned to Ballard County and engaged in farming; in 1868 he was elected constable, and re-elected in 1870; in 1872 he was appointed deputy assessor, and in 1876 was elected to the same office for four years; in 1880 he engaged in the drug business at Blandville, and in February, 1883, moved to Wickliffe, where he is still engaged in the same trade. October 12, 1875, he married Alice Moss, daughter of Frank and Rebecca (Cole) Moss, and had born to him one child, which died unnamed. His wife died in May, 1876, a member of the Baptist Church. December 23, 1880, he married Anna Bondurant, daughter of P. H. and Helen (Jackson) Bondurant, and to this union has been born one child, Margaret Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs are members of the Christian Church, while he is a Free Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Honor, and a member of the K. & L. of H. He cast his first vote for Seymour and Blair, and is still a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 186 biographies included in the Ballard County, Kentucky section of the book, 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

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