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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JUDGE J. W. HOOKER, Graves County, was born July 2, 1837, in Perryville, now Boyle County, Ky. He is a son of Washington and Rebecca (Magill) Hocker. These parents were born in Lincoln County, Ky., the father in February, 1808. He is still living on his farm and has held various offices of trust in the locality where he resides. The mother died in 1851. Judge Hocker was principally reared in and near Bowling Green, where he entered a tobacco warehouse as clerk. In 1857 he came to Graves County, north. There he engaged in farming till 1881, when he was elected county judge, first by the magistrates and then by the people in 1882. He held the office of magistrate in North Graves from 1871 to November, 1881. When elected to his present position he supplied himself with sufficient law books and applied himself diligently in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the duties required of him. These he has succeeded in mastering, and may justly be styled a self-made man. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Ellen Shelton, of Trigg County. She died in December, 1864, aged twenty-two. His second marriage was in December, 1866, to Mrs. Simpson, of Graves County. She died April 2, 1882, aged forty-one, leaving six children, four sons and two daughters. His third marriage occurred February 15, 1883, to Miss Sue Davis, a native of Christian County, Ky.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in the Graves 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 Graves County, Kentucky family biographies here: Graves County, Kentucky Biographies

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