My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM W. MOSBY was born April 19, 1825, in what is now Ballard, but then Hickman County, Ky., and is the third of ten children born to Daniel and Mary (Watson) Mosby, the former of whom was a native of Boone, and the latter a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and of Scotch-English and Irish descent. Daniel Mosby was married in Indiana, and soon after removed to Missouri. From there, in 1825, he came with his family to Hickman County, Ky., which was then almost an unbroken wilderness, and included nearly all of the Purchase District. Here he afterward entered several hundred acres of land, erected a rude log cabin, and subsequently improved a farm. He afterward sold and bought several different farms in the neighborhood, and was extensively engaged in agricultural puruits and stock-breeding until his death, February 9, 1876, in his eighty-second year. He was magistrate in Hickman and Ballard Counties for more than twenty years, and was the second sheriff of Ballard County. The first court ever held in Ballard County was held in Mr. Mosby’s tobacco barn. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, having served under Gen. Harrison throughout the entire struggle. He and wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church —the first religious services in Ballard County having been held in his cabin. He was also an earnest advocate of the temperance cause. William W. Mosby acquired an excellent practical business education, mainly by his own exertions, after he became a man. He was employed on the home farm until he attained his majority. He then bought wild land near the present site of Bardwell, where he subsequently improved a farm and resided until 1866, when he sold out and bought 320 acres of wild land immediately east of Arlington, on the old State road. Here he improved another farm, upon which he still resides, and to which he has added from time to time, now owning well improved farms, amounting to some 600 acres. He is also quite extensively engaged in breeding fine horses, both roadsters and draft horses. Recently he has quite extensively engaged in breeding short-horn cattle. He was married January 26, 1855, to Miss Matilda F. Berry, a native of Ballard County, Ky., and a daughter of Isaac N. Berry, one of the early pioneers of western Kentucky. Eleven children have blessed their union, seven of whom—five sons and two daughters —are yet living. Mr. Mosby and wife and all their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to both the subordinate lodge and the encampment. In politics Mr. Mosby is a Democrat; is the oldest native-born citizen of Ballard County, and is one of its leading representative farmers.