KYBIOGRAPHIES-L Archives

From: Sandi Gorin <>
Subject: BIOS #4391 THRU 4395 - WOODBURN, SMITH, YOUNGER, WILLETT, YAGER
Date: Tue, 09 May 2000 06:26:46 -0500

4391 MUHLENBERG - WOODBURN, BENJAMIN W - Woodburn Higgins Wilkey Compton
Morehead Cosby Bellmy
4392 NELSON - SMITH, THOMAS J - Smith Settles Burrell
4393 NICHOLAS - YOUNGER - WILLIAM P - Younger Crose Cupps Kern Reed Fisher
Woody
4394 OHIO - WILLETT, JAMES JOSEPH - Willett Masters Brown Humphreys Cagle
Coakley Sumner Baum Bell Shields
4395 OLDHAM - YAGER, THOMAS C - Yager Clore Allen

#4391: Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd
ed., 1885, Muhlenberg Co. DR. BENJAMIN W. WOODBURN, Muhlenburgh [sic]
County, was born May 7, 1834, in Christian County, Ky., and is the fourth
of six boys and six girls, born to James and Amelia (Higgins) Woodburn,
natives respectively, of Christian County, Ky., and South Carolina, of
Irish and English descent. The father, who was a son of James and Mary
(Wilkey) Woodburn, natives of Ireland and South Carolina, emigrated from
South Carolina to Christian County about 1800, where he entered and
improved 200 acres of land, on which he lived until his death, which
occurred when our subject was nineteen years old; he was sheriff of
Christian County under the old constitution. The mother of our subject was
the daughter of William Higgins, who married Charity Compton. Mr. Higgins
was a soldier of the Revolution, a farrier and moved
to Tennessee; thence to Christian County in an early day; later to Trigg
County. Dr. Woodburn remained with his mother on the farm until he was
twenty-five years old; in 1858 he commenced the study of medicine under Dr.
J. W. Morehead of Bremen, his mother having moved to the latter place in
1856; in 1860, commenced practicing in Trigg County, Ky.; in 1861, returned
to Bremen, where he has been engaged in his practice ever since with good
success; is the possessor of a good farm and a fine residence in Bremen.
He was married January 5, 1862, to Cecilia S. Cosby, of Muhlenburgh County;
born in Amelia County, Va., and the daughter of John D. and Mary L.
(Bellmy) Cosby, of Virginia, and of English descent. To Dr. Woodburn and
wife were born three children: Clarence, Anna Lee, and James C. He and
wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Doctor is a
Mason.

#4392: History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties, Indiana From
the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Interesting Biographical
Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. Chicago, Goodspeed Bros., & Co.,
Publishers, 1884. Weston A. Goodspeed, Leroy C. Goodspeed, Charles L.
Goodspeed. Nelson County. THOMAS J. SMITH, ESQ. The above is a son of
Henry G. and Eliza (Settles) Smith, both natives of Nelson County, Ky., and
of German descent. They came to Indiana in 1839 and settled on a farm in
Jackson County. In 1848 they removed to Salem where Mr. Smith was engaged
in stock-dealing and farming for sixteen years. They then returned to
Jackson County. Mrs. Smith died in 1873. Mr. Smith, although over
seventy-one years of age, still manages a farm. Thomas J. Smith received
his education in the schools of Salem. March 29, 1864 he enlisted in
Company G, Seventeenth In., V. I., with which regiment he served until
mustered out at Macon, Ga. He participated in all the battles of the
campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and was also under Gen. Wilson on the
expedition to liberate the prisoners at Andersonville. After his return
from the war he attended school for a time. In 1869 he went to Missouri,
bought a farm and remained one year. He then returned to the farm where he
now resides. June 13, 1869, he was united in marriage to Beldora Burrell,
of Jackson County. They have had three children: Kirby, Tilden and Annie
(deceased). Mr. Smith is a member of the G. A. R. and is a Democrat in
politics. He was a Justice of the Peace in Jefferson Township for two years.

#4393: History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties, Indiana From
the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Interesting Biographical
Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. Chicago, Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publishers, 1884. Weston A. Goodspeed, Leroy C. Goodspeed, Charles L.
Goodspeed. Nicholas County. WILLIAM P. YOUNGER, a native of Nicholas
County, Ky., was born March 23, 1828, being the eldest of twelve children
of Lewis and Nancy (Crose) Younger, both natives of Kentucky, who came to
Lawrence County, Indiana in 1832, settling where our subject now resides.
William P. remained on his father's farm until the age of eighteen years,
obtaining limited schooling, but at that age began for himself. November
11, 1848, he married Delilah Rogers, who has borne him three children, two
of whom are now living: Lucretia J., the wife of Caleb Cupps, and Alice,
who became the wife of Jasper Kern. February 14, 1856, Mrs. Youngr died,
and November 22, 1856, he was united in marriage with Elvira Reed, and to
this union the following issue have been born: Addison, Kitty, Minnie,
Charlie, Lillie and May. May 22, 1871, his second wife died, and August
16, 1873, he married Phelissa A. (Fisher) Woody, who has born him three
children, two living: Aylett R. and J. N. Mr. Younger is successful in
farming, owning 200 acres of land. They are members of the Christian
Church. He is a Republican. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution.

#4394: "A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY,
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone. Probably published in 1944 by Messenger Job
Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 425-426. Used by permission.
[Ohio] JAMES JOSEPH WILLETT: J. J. Willett is among the oldest living
ministers who have served the Churches in this Association. He was born of
good Baptist stock. He came from a family that has produced a number of
useful and faithful Baptist preachers. His date of birth was January 22,
1861, and his place of birth was Meade County, Kentucky. He is the
youngest of twelve children born to Richard and Mary Willett.Brother
Willett was converted at the age of twelve and united with the Hill Grove
Church in his native County. He was ordained to the ministry about the
year 1885 but where and by whom we do not know. His education was secured
from the common schools at hand, Bardstown Male and Female Institute, and
still later Georgetown College. His theological studies were completed at
the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. V.
I. Masters, former Editor of the Western Recorder, states that, "When the
Editor was in the Seminary in the early nineties, among his fellow students
were three Willetts, all Kentuckians, one of whom was the subject of this
sketch, while a second, Rev. J. Oliver Willett, now resides at Phoenix,
Arizona, and has for years rendered faithful service in that state. The
third of the three Willetts, Rev. A. R. Willett, has now passed on to be
with God after a very fruitful life and work".He was united in marriage to
Miss Mary Allie Brown, of
Brandenburg, Kentucky, on August 9, 1887. They lived together as faithful
companions for almost fifty-two years. Her death occurred in Owensboro,
Kentucky, on March 23, 1939, at the age of sixty-eight, and the funeral was
conducted from the Walnut Street Church by Revs. R. E. Humphreys, A. F.
Cagle, and W. S. Coakley. Her body was interred in the Rose Hill Cemetery.
Four children blessed their wedded life. Mrs. R. S. Sumner lives in
Owensboro, Ky., and Mrs. Earl Baum and Mrs. W. J. Bell live in Miami,
Florida. The one son, Dr. Dwight H. Willett, spent twenty-seven years in
the ministry and recently died at his home in Irwin. Tenn, at the age of
fifty-two. His sketch is given in the list of deceased ministers. Brother
Willett preached his first five years as a minister at Valley Creek, Middle
Creek, East Rhudes Creek, and White Mills, near Elizaabethtown [sic],
Kentucky, during which time more than 250 persons were baptized into the
Churches on profession of faith. Our brother next accepted a pastoral
field near Vevay, Indiana, the Churches being Friendship, Fairview, Brushy
Fork, Palltown, and Macedonia. Later he preached at Dunkirk, Indiana, and
still later to Churches in the State of Ohio. On account of failing health
the family returned to Meade County, Kentucky, and our brother gave twelve
years in pastoral services to Churches in Salem Association, and served as
a part-time missionary for that body of Baptists. This was followed by
five years of pastoral service at Hardinsburg, Kentucky, and other country
Churches near there. His last field of service was in the vicinity of
Owensboro, Kentucky, where for a period of five years he served the
following rural Churches: Panther Creek, Dawson at Philpot, Friendship
Centertown, Macedonia, South Hampton, and South Carrollton. From 1919 to
1930 he held his last pastorate at Hall Street Church in Owensboro, and
thus he closed a very active and successful ministry of about fifty years.
His was a ministry blessed of God to the saving of the lost, and the
cheering and building up of believers wherever this faithful man labored.
Brother Willett bore his share of responsibilities placed upon him by his
brethren, these included ten years as clerk of the Daviess County Baptist
Association, and as secretary of the Mission Board of the Association for a
period of twenty-five years. He resigned this last position of
responsibility in his eightieth year. New buildings were erected at Hite's
Run, in Breckenridge [sic] County; South Carrollton, in Muhlenberg County;
and Hall Street, in Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky, during his
pastorate at these places. Brother Willett was married to Mrs. Birch
Shields, the widow of Rev. Birch Shields, in the early part of 1940, and
since that time has made his home at Beaver Dam, Ohio County, Kentucky. He
is also a member of the historic Beaver Dam Baptist Church. Even though he
is now in his eighty-third year our brother can still tell you why he is a
Baptist and can preach to you a very able sermon. The ministry has been
blessed and enriched by the life and labors of James Joseph
Willett. He gave much encouragement and counsel to the author during the
early days of his ministry and he will be forever grateful for it.

#4395: Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 6th
ed., 1887, Oldham Co. THOMAS C. YAGER was born in Danville, Ky., October
6, 1804, and is a son of Jesse and Ann (Clore) Yager, natives of Virginia.
He has for many years lived in Oldham County, and is regarded by all as a
fine citizen.
He has been a member of the Christian Church for many years, and has always
supported its principles. In 1831 he married Mary E. Yager, a daughter of
John W. Yager, who bore him two children, James P. and Berilla. Mrs. Yager
died in October 1837, and our subject then married Rebecca A. Allen,
February 21, 1839, a daughter of Benjamin Allen, a widely known Christian
minister. To this union were born three children: William B., John T. and
Sarah E., all of whom are now living. Mr. Yager owns a fine farm of 225
acres, all well improved, and a fine brick residence. Politically Mr. Yager
is a Democrat.

Col. Sandi Gorin, 205 Clements,Glasgow, KY 42141
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• BIOS #4391 THRU 4395 - WOODBURN, SMITH, YOUNGER, WILLETT, YAGER by Sandi Gorin <>