Capt. Charles and Annie Terry Perkins

Charles Grover

Perkins

1837 – 1911

Annie Terry

Perkins

1844 – 1899

Captain Charles G. Perkins, aged 74, one of the best known steamboat men along the Ohio River, died at his home in Evansville, Indiana the morning of Tuesday, 17 April 1911 of heart trouble. Capt. Perkins was born in Xenia, Ohio, and moved with his father to Cincinnati when he was nine years of age.  When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the Union army and after a  year’s service, he was placed in command of the union gunboat Brilliant that plied the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.[1]

Charles G. Perkins married Anna Terry 17 Nov 1863 in Henderson, Kentucky.[2] She was the daughter of Nathaniel D. and Sarah Terry, with whom Charles G. and Annie[3] Perkins were living in 1870.  Charles’ occupation was given as “steam boatman.”   For several years Capt. Perkins and Capt. James B. Thompson, of Evansville, operated the steamer Jewell in the Evansville – Henderson trade. The Jewell was destroyed by fire about a year ago. Capt. Perkins was a member of Grace  Presbyterian Church of Evansville. At his death he was survived by his widow, two sons and four daughters.   

Capt. Perkins, son of John S. Perkins and Elizabeth Beal, was age 74 years, 1 month and 1 day old when he died. [4]  Charles G. and Annie Terry Perkins are both buried in Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky.  There is a wonderful biography of Capt. Charles G. Perkins in Starling’s History of Henderson County, Kentucky. It is accessible HERE

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[1] “Veteran in Steamboat Service,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Tuesday, 18 Apr 1911, p. 6, obituary of Charles G. Perkins.

[2] Kentucky Complied Marriages 1783-1965, Charles Perkins and Anna Terry, Ancestry.com.

[3] Through mistake or perhaps using a nickname, Annie was enumerated as “Nannie” Perkins on the 1870 Henderson County, Kentucky census. See Ward 1, Roll M593_469, p. 103A.

[4] Indiana Death Certificate #373, Charles G. Perkins, died 17 April 1911.

Published 25 Sep 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

In the News 23 September 1910

While newspapers from small towns in Western Kentucky are not always available, often we can find news in nearby larger towns. The following Smithland news items appeared in the Paducah Sun-Democrat on Friday, 23 September 1910, on page 7 and were reprinted from the Smithland Echo.  It is through these news items that we get a glimpse of life in small town Kentucky in 1910.

SMITHLAND

Dr. J.N. Clements, of Carrsville, has just leased the rock bluff in front of Carrsville for one year for the sum of $10,000 to some eastern millionaires. Articles were drawn up last week and signed.

Will Sullivant, who was sent to the penitentiary at the last term of court, died last Thursday. He was very low when he was carried to the river on a cot and carried to Eddyville on a gasoline boat. It was thought best to take him to the penitentiary because there a hospital is provided and better treatment could be had.

Last Monday Mr. Dave Williams died of dropsy. He had been in ill health for a number of years. He lived in the Panhandle section.

Mr. H.L. Martin, deputy sheriff, lost a fine $200 horse last week. The horse fell in a ditch and was nearly dead when found.

The entire Barnett farm in Panhandle owned by Mr. J.C. Barnett has been sold. Last week the remainder was sold to Clarence and R.U. Scott at $75 per acre.

Miss Maude Fritts of Metropolis is visiting the family of Mr. T.D. Presnell.

Mr. T.D. Presnell is contemplating trying his skill in building an automobile.

Mr. G.W. Tipton has purchased the Dean lot and will build a fine residence.

The children of Mr. Chas. Smith, who moved to Smithland last week, entered school last Monday.

Mrs. A.J. Driskill and daughter, of Marion, are visiting Mrs. V.D. Presnell this week.

Last Monday Mr. Robert Lindsey, of Providence, but formerly of Smithland, and Mrs. Inez Culledge were married. They left Tuesday for Providence where they intend making their future home.

Published 23 Sep 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/ 

Webster County, Kentucky Physicians 1888

Kentucky passed an act in 1874 that made it unlawful for any person, for reward or compensation, to practice or prescribe medicine or perform surgical operations if they have not graduated from a chartered school of medicine. A person who had been regularly and honorably engaged in the practice of medicine for 10 years was deemed to have complied with the provisions of this act. A person having engaged in medicine for 5 years was allowed one year to comply with the provisions. Anyone practicing medicine or performing surgery and did not meet the provisions of this act, if convicted,  had to pay a fine. The act, amended and approved 24 April 1888, stated that, beginning 1 April 1889, any persons practicing medicine in Kentucky must register in the county clerk’s office where he practiced medicine.[1]

The following physicians registered with the State Board of Health in Bowling Green and then with the Webster County court clerk. The following records can be found in Webster County Medical Register 1888 – 1955  on FamilySearch.

Dr. T.J. Calvert, age 62; born Muhlenburg [sic] County, Ky; has practiced in Muhlenburg County about two years and in Webster County about 41 years. Registered 28 Aug 1888. [p. 1]

Dr. W.J. Moore, age 43; born Webster County; diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine and Univ. of Louisville 1870 & 1872. Registered 11 Sep 1888. [p. 2]

Dr. D.T. White, age 29; born Henderson County, Ky; diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine 26 June 1885. Registered 11 Sep 1888.  [p. 3]

Geo. W. White, age 31; born Webster County; diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine 26 June 1885. Registered 24 Sep 1888.  [p. 4]

J.T. Sayars. age 50; born Christian County, Ky; diploma from Ohio School of Medicine of Columbus, Ohio 1861. Registered 12 Nov 1888.  [p. 5]

Dr. R.L. Agnew, age 25; born Henderson County, Ky; diploma from Univ. of Louisville 26 Mar 1884. Registered 23 Nov 1888.  [p. 6]

Dr. Chas. L. Edwards, age 25; born Webster County; diploma from Missouri Medical College of St. Louis 2 Mar 1886. Registered 23 Nov 1888.  [p. 7]

Dr. Joel Parker, age 25; born Webster County; diploma from Bellevue Hospital Medical College “City NY” 26 Jun 1884 and Honorarium diploma from Kentucky School of Medicine 9 Mar 1885. Registered 27 Nov 1888. [p. 8]

Dr. L.A. Archibald, age 44; born Pictou/Tipton[?] County, Nova Scotia; diploma from Louisville Medical College 16 Jun 1873. Registered 28 Nov 1888.  [p. 9]

Dr. Ephraim M. Stewart, age 46; born Calloway County, Kentucky; diploma from Hospital Medical College of Evansville, Indiana 27 Feb 1885. Registered 10 Dec 1888.  [p. 10]

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[1] “Kentucky’s Amended Empiricism Law,” Medical Laws of Kentucky, Register of the United States, Kentucky, p. 457, Google Books, accessed 2019.

Published 17 Sep 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Sam L. and Fannie L. Shelby

Sam L. Shelby

1870 – 1948

  

Fannie L. Shelby

1872 – 1957

Samuel Lafette Shelby was born 9 November 1870 in Kentucky and was the son of Richard Shelby, born Kentucky, and Elvira Frazier, born Illinois. Sam L. Shelby died 19 April 1948 in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky. [1]  He married Mrs. Fannie Graves at Salem on 12 December 1903. [2]   Sam L. and Fannie Shelby first appear together on the 1910 Livingston County census. Appearing in their household were their two children, Richard S. and Elvira, plus children by Fannie’s first marriage.

Fannie Louise Campbell was born 23 November 1872 Kentucky and died 24 May 1957 in a rest home in Paducah, Kentucky. On her death certificate, her parents are listed as Tom Campbell and Virginia Ann Grover. The informant was Sam Shelby.[3] She  married (1) George E. Graves of Dycusburg, Crittenden County, Kentucky 5 June 1895 in Greene County, Missouri.[4] They had two children, Virginia and Marie, before George’s death 1 September 1900.[5]

Sam L. and Fannie L. Shelby are both buried in Salem Cemetery, Salem, Livingston County, Kentucky.

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[1] Kentucky Death Certificate #8434 (1948), Samuel Lafette Shelby, Informant: S.R. Shelby, Ancestry.com, accessed 21 June 2020.

[2] Kentucky County Marriage Records 1783-1965, S.L. Shelby and Mrs. Fannie Graves, Ancestry.com, accessed 21 June 2020.

[3] Kentucky Death Certificate #57-12784, Fannie Louise Shelby, Ancestry.com, accessed 21 June 2020.

[4] Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002, George E. Graves and Fannie L. Campbell, Ancestry.com, accessed 21 June 2020.

[5] “In Memoriam,” Crittenden Press, Thurs., 13 September 1900, p. 4, obituary of George E. Graves.

Published 10 September 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Importation of Bacon Family Slaves

Slaves imported from a foreign country since the first of January 1808, or slaves who had been tried and convicted of a felony in any other state or territory were not to be brought into Kentucky. Also no slave could be imported into Kentucky as merchandise or for the purpose of sale or barter under penalty of a fine. Congress prohibited the importation of slaves into the United States and slaves were prohibited from being imported in Kentucky from 1833.  Within 40 days of a slave being imported to Kentucky, his/her owner had to present a list to the county court clerk giving the names of the slaves, their ages and sex. Within 60 days, the owner had to take an oath in their Kentucky county of residence regarding their intention of importing slaves for their personal use.[1] The following document was found in loose Caldwell County, Kentucky county court papers in a file marked Importation of Slaves

“Caldwell County} Sct

I, Gillee M. Bacon hereby certify that I have come to the State of Kentucky with an intention of becoming a citizen thereof from the State of Virginia and that I have brought with me the following Slaves, for my own use and not for merchandise.  Viz

Warrenton          Black complexion aged about  50

Sam                       do    do                             “   40 or 45

Rachael                Brown  do           “      “          14

Lucy Park             do    “                    “     “         16 or 18

Mary                    Black      “             “      “         40

Hannah                Brown    “            “      “          50

Mariah                     do         “            “      “         15

                                                                                        Gillee M. Bacon

                Sworn to before me this 26^th November 1852

                                                                J.A. McConnell, J.P.C.C. “[2]

 Click on document for an enlarged view

Gillie M. Bacon married Mary A. Jones 14 July 1825 in Lunenburg County, Virginia.[3] They were living in Lunenburg County in 1850.[4]   By the latter part of 1852, they had moved to Kentucky, settling first in Caldwell County (see document above) and then moving to Henderson County, Kentucky before 1860.[5]

Indiana M. Bacon was owner of slaves Hannah, Mary, Maria and Sam, who were transferred to Indiana by John J. Jones in a division between Indiana, the said Jones and E.C. Craig and his wife  for the purpose  of having same conveyed to Mary Ann Bacon by their deed and is also possessed of a life estate for the life of Gillie M. Bacon in certain other slaves, to wit, Warrenton, Judy, Ben, Lucy Parke and Margaret Rachel Elizabeth and Mary Ann Bacon by deed of 21 January 1850 conveyed to Indiana her right in reversion to slave Lucy Parke. Therefore this indenture of 21 January between Indiana M. Bacon, of the first part, Gillie M. Bacon, Trustee chosen by the parties and Mary Ann Bacon of the third part … and $1 .. hath conveyed to Gillie M. Bacon, Trustee, all her right, title and interest to slaves mentioned above. Gillie to hold said slaves and apply the profits arising from them for the sole and exclusive use of Mary Ann Bacon during her life and after her death for the benefit of Mary Ann’s children by the said Gillie. If at any time it is the opinion that it is expedient to sell or remove any of the slaves, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to effect such sale and the proceeds held in trust or disbursed for the benefit of Mary A. Bacon.   Recorded in Lunenburg County, Virginia 5 May 1852 and recorded in Henderson County, Kentucky 12 June 1858.

The Gille/Gillie Bacon family does not appear on the 1870 or later census records in Henderson County, Kentucky.

[1] “Slaves, Runaways, Free Negroes, Etc., “The Revised Statutes of Kentucky and An Appendix, Vol. II, (Cincinnati: Robert Clarkes & Co., 1860), Article II on the Importation of Slaves, Sec. 1,2 and 3, Google Books. 

[2] Loose County Court papers, Caldwell County Clerk’s Office, Princeton, Kentucky; also recorded in Caldwell County Deed Book 2:81, Recorded 3 December 1852.

[3] Virginia Marriages 1740-1850, Lunenburg County, Virginia, Gillie M. Bacon and Mary A. Jones, 24 July 1825, Ancestry.com.

[4] 1850 Lunenburg County, Virginia census, Roll 958, p. 24, Ancestry.com.

[5] 1860 Henderson County, Kentucky census, Division 2, p. 153, Ancestry.com.

Published 3 September 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/