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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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JOHN W. OGILVIE, McCracken County, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., eleven miles south of Nashville, December 28, 1825. His parents, Lemuel H. and Martha (Winstead) Ogilvie, were natives respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee. His father was a farmer; came to the Purchase in 1830, and four years later to McCracken County, and died March 12, 1857. His mother had been first married to Mr. Abram Moses, by whom she had two children, one of whom, Benjamin F., is now living. Her marriage with Mr. Ogilvie gave nine children, all of whom survive: James B.., John W., Martha H., Samuel, Andrew J., Maria L., Napoleon J., William H. and Elijah W. Napoleon J. served in the Confederate Army one year. The grandfather of our subject, Kimbrow T. Ogilvie, was a Revolutionary soldier. He was from North Carolina, and was descended from old Scotch-Irish stock. John W., the subject of this notice, came to this country with his parents when he was but a few years old. His father’s circumstances denied the youth the benefits of an early schooling, and at nineteen years of age he could hardly read or spell. He hired out to a farmer, Dr. Robert Fletcher, for seventeen months, at $5 a month. Dr. Fletcher, taking a liking to the boy, bought him a spelling book and sent him to school, and there he learned the rudiments of a practical education. After this Mr. Ogilvie hired out as a fireman on a steamboat, running from Cincinnati to New Orleans. At the age of twenty-three he married Miss Margaret A. Griffeth, a daughter of John Griffeth, and a niece of Dr. Boland, noted as the man who captured the great murderer, Pennington, in Texas. This union gave six children, three of whom are living: William H., Lemuel B. and John W. After his marriage Mr. Ogilvie was repeatedly elected to various county offices, serving in those of magistrate and deputy sheriff. In 1865, he was elected to the State legislature over two competitors, and during his term introduced and was the author of various important measures. He was re-elected in 1867, and again in 1871, to the same position, the last time with no opposition. At the expiration of his service, he returned home and devoted his time to farming, and for four years was the inspector of tobacco at Paducah. In 1879 he was defeated for the State senate by a few votes, but in 1883 carried the three counties composing his senatorial district, by over 700 majority. During his long official service he has been chairman of many import ant legislative committees, and has wielded a great influence in behalf of all measures having in view the good of the general masses. Mr. Ogilvie came to his present residence about seven years ago. His farm consists of 200 acres. He has property, also, elsewhere in the county and in Tennessee. His present wife was Miss Carrie Bell, a daughter of David Bell, and a cousin of John Bell, the famous statesman of Tennessee. This union has been blessed with two children: David B. and Alpheus H. Mr. Ogilvie has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1855, and also belongs to the K. of H. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church South.

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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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