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Below is a family biography included in County of Trigg, Kentucky, Historical and Biographical edited by William Henry Perrin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Co. in 1884.  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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THOMAS CRENSHAW was born in this precinct and county on June 10, 1820; he is the only living one of three children born to Cornelius and Nancy (Kent) Crenshaw. The parents were natives of Halifax County, Va., and emigrated to this county in 1819, The father soon after his arrival here purchased about 440 acres at $5 per acre (the land now forms part of the farm owned by subject), and there resided until his death. In his life-time he was a consistent church member, having been at first identified with the United Baptist denomination, afterward with the Christian Church, to which he belonged at the time of his death. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, having gone out in a Virginia company; he was stationed at Norfolk and was an officer in the ranks. Our subject at the age of twenty-five assumed control of the home farm for his father, and continued the management of it until the latter’s death. He inherited his father’s estate of about 440 acres, which he has since increased to about 1,000 acres. Of this there are about 600 acres in cultivation. He also does something in stock-raising, handling about 100 head yearly. In farming he makes nothing a specialty, but raises all the cereals and also tobacco. Mr. Crenshaw was married in this county on September 22, 1840, to Miss Eliza Ann Greenwade. This lady was a daughter of John and Annie (Thomas) Greenwade, the father being a native of Maryland, the mother of Bourbon County, Ky. This lady was born in Trigg County in 1823, and to her were born eight children, seven of whom are living, viz.: Elizabeth R., wife of Thomas Cochran; Susan B., wife of Henry Richards; Malcolm B.; Nancy E., wife of E. M. Jones; Thomas E., Robert C. in Christian County, and Millard F., in Hopkinsville. Her death occurred on December 30, 1858, and Mr. Crenshaw was married on May 17, 1860, to Miss Cynthia A. Garland, a daughter of Hugh and Nancy (Richards) Garland. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, the mother of Maryland. Both lived and died in New Brighton, Penn. Mrs. Crenshaw’s ancestors were of a patriotic stock. Two of her great uncles were soldiers in the Revolution, and were killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, and her maternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was killed at the battle of Chippewa. Mrs. Crenshaw was born in Sharon, Penn., on December 30, 1830, and is the mother of one child—Hugh C. Most of Mr. Crenshaw’s life has been spent in farming; he has, however, devoted some attention to merchandising, and has also dealt some in commission business. In politics Mr. Crenshaw was first an old line Whig, during the war a Union man, and since that time he has been identified with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw and family are members of the Christian Church.

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This family biography is one of 185 biographies included in The History of Trigg County, Kentucky published in 1884.  For the complete description, click here: Trigg County, Kentucky History and Genealogy

View additional Trigg County, Kentucky family biographies: Trigg County, Kentucky Biographies

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