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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GEORGE W. SHIVELL, physician and merchant, Woodville, was born in Henry County, Ky., February 22, 1832, and is the sixth of twelve children born to George and Nancy (Scott) Shivell. The father was born in Lexington, Ky., and about 1832 settled in Henry County. He was by trade a carpenter, but up to within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1862, he owned and operated a flouring-mill, in Henry County. Our subject assisted his father in the mill during his youth, and in the meantime attended a good country school. At sixteen years of age, he went to New Castle, Ky., where he was employed in a tobacco factory, and with the means thus obtained was able to take private lessons, and spent his evenings in the prosecution of his studies. At the age of eighteen, he went to Louisville, Ky., and spent three years in learning the drug business. He afterward taught school in various counties of the State and was thus enabled to attend the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, which institution graduated him in 1857, after an attendance of three terms. After remaining nine months in the city hospital, he went to Eminence, Ky., where he opened a drug store, but sold out and came two years later to Woodville, and opened a grocery and general store. After a residence here of twelve years, he removed to Paducah, Ky., where he remained eight years, engaged in the tobacco and grain business. He returned to Woodville, after doing business two years in Ballard County, and now carries a large stock of general goods. October 26, 1858, he married Miss Mattie A. Holland, of Henry County, Ky.; she passed away September 2, 1879, leaving one son, James D. The doctor subsequently married Miss Nannie R. Fortson, of Ballard County, Ky. This union has given one child, Mary. The doctor is a member of the Masonic order and K. of H. Inheriting his mother’s literary talents, he has contributed many able articles to the columns of various newspapers, and the influence of his pen has been felt in the discussion of many of the leading issues of the day.
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This family biography is one of 165 biographies included in the McCracken 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 McCracken County, Kentucky family biographies here: McCracken County, Kentucky Biographies
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