My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL LARKINS was born January 24, 1822, in Graves County, Ky. He is a son of William and Penelope (Hollowell) Larkins, both natives of North Carolina. The father came to this county from Caldwell County in 1841, and settled on 1,100 acres of land. He was married in Trigg County about the year 1819. These parents had eleven children, nine of whom are now living. The father died in 1866, at the age of seventy-seven years. The mother’s death occurred at the age of sixty-eight. Both parents were for many years zealous and influential members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. They reared eleven children, who reached the years of maturity, and before the parents died, they had the pleasure of seeing their children all members of the church of their choice. Our subject began for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He has been quite successful in business. He was Magistrate of this county for fourteen years. He was a member of the State Legislature from 1863 to 1865. He has held other county and precinct offices, quite to the satisfaction of his constituency. He was commissioned by Gov. Powell, Major of Kentucky Militia. He now owns 300 acres of land, about one-half of which is improved. The Hollowell marble monument cost $2,500, is twenty-five feet high, and is upon Mr. Larkin’s farm. His land is perhaps among the best in the precinct. He raises corn, wheat and tobacco, and can raise almost anything that can be grown in this latitude. He was married in 1853, to Josephine Brandon, of this county. Severn J., Mattie A., Mollie J., Robert S., Anna E. P. and Charles T., are their children. Miss Anna E. is a teacher of experience; her services are in good demand in that calling. Both parents are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Larkins was County Elector on the Fillmore and Donelson ticket in 1856, and for Bell and Everett in 1860, and canvassed the county for these officers. He was candidate for the Legislature several times, and once for the Senate, and was defeated in the latter contest. He has left the political arena, prefering to engage in other business more congenial to his nature. Mr. Larkins is a practical surveyor and engineer, and has sawed and sold more plank and lumber than any man in the county.