My Genealogy Hound

C. H. MAJOR, Sr., was born in Madison County, Va., on September 17, 1817, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Sims) Major. The parents were of Welsh descent. Subject was next to the youngest of a family of nine children, and of this number only two are now living: James, in Missouri, and C. H. When the latter was nine years old the father came to Kentucky, and settled in Christian County eight miles southeast of Hopkinsville. There he resided until his death in 1857. The mother died in 1820. Subject remained at home until eighteen, and then commenced life as a clerk in Hopkinsville. At the end of five years he began merchandising for himself, and was engaged in this business five years. In 1841 he came to Trigg County and began farming, settling on the Cadiz pike. He owned about 1,000 acres, of which 450 acres were in cultivation. In 1873 he lost one of his limbs by falling on a mowing-machine, and in 1879 he sold his farm and came to Canton. Here he opened a commission house. He buys and rehandles tobacco, and also acts as forwarding agent for freight. Mr. Major was married in 1839 to Miss Nancy J. Wade, a daughter of Hampton and Jane (Simmons) Wade, natives of Halifax County, Va. This lady was born in Virginia, and came to this county in 1818 with her parents. To her husband were born three sons, all of whom are now living. Her death occurred in 1848. In Christian County, in 1849, Mr. Major was married to his second wife, Miss Mary J. Clark, a daughter of Thomas P. and Eleanor (Rawlins) Clark, natives of Maryland and Virginia. Mrs. Major was born in Christian County, and is the mother of eight children—five sons and three daughters. Mr. Major and family are members of the Baptist Church. He is also a member of the Grange fraternity. Previous to the war he was an old-time Whig; since that time he has been identified with the Democratic party.