E. Polk Johnson, The History of Kentucky and Kentuckians, Vol. III, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1912, pp. 1559-1560. Name: David N. LAFFERTY _________________________________________ Birth: August 24, 1857 Father: John A. LAFFERTY Mother: Frances Elizabeth HENRY DAVID N. LAFFERTY. Persistent in purpose, resolute in character, and optimistic in his views, David N. Lafferty, successfully engaged in general farming on Lafferty'.s pike, has won success in life in spite of the many obstacles that beset his early career, which were legion, mishaps and misfortunes following his footsteps for a number of years. Never giving up, however, but ever looking onward and upward, he finally gained Fortune's smile, and is now seemingly a prime favorite of the capricious dame. He was born on the farm adjoining the one he now owns and occupies August 24, 1857, that homestead having also been the birthplace of his father, John A. Lafferty. James A. Lafferty, his paternal grandfather, a native of Virginia, came from there to Kentucky about 1802, locating in Harrison ,county. The country roundabout was in its original wildness, game of all kinds being abundant and the Indians numerous. Buying four hundred acres of land on what is now Lafferty's pike, he erected a log cabin, the first one-in this section of Kentucky, and built a barn, which was very commodious in its proportions for those days, and although not a nail was used in its construction it has bravely withstood the ravages of time and weather and is still standing on the farm. He was a man of some means, and as a farmer was quite prosperous. He married Susan Smith, who was born and bred in Virginia, and of the three sons and two daughters born into their household Mrs. Lizzie King, of Harrison county, is the only survivor. He died on his homestead about 1865, at a venerable age. John A. Lafferty, born on his father's farm on Lafferty's pike, February 14, 1832, was reared to agricultural pursuits. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, becoming a bugler in Captain Shawhan's company, He was wounded in his first engagement, but recovering from his injuries served until the close of the conflict. After his marriage he bought land adjoining the parental homestead, and was there profitably engaged in farming until his death, August 29, 1905. He was a Democrat in politics and served as deputy sheriff and high sheriff of Harrison county, being in office eight years all told. Both he and his wife Nvere members of the Christian church. The maiden name of the wife of John A. Lafferty was Frances Elizabeth Henry. She was born April 14, 1839, in Harrison county, Kentucky, where her parents, John. H. and Elizabeth (Tebbett) Henry, located on coming to Kentucky from Virginia, their native state. Of the twelve children born of their union eight are now living, namely: judge William T., dean of the law department of the Kentucky University, at Lexington; Sue Ella, wife of H. J. Martin, of Cynthiana; David N., the special subject of this sketch; James, a resident of Bloomington, Illinois; Minnie, wife of Frank McMurtry, of Harrison county; Yearl, wife of Joe H. Ewalt, of Harrison c~unty; Meddie, wife of Dr. J. P. Chamberlain, of Breckinridge; and John A., of Danville, Illinois. Attending first the district schools and later the public school in Cynthiana, David N. Lafferty completed his early education by taking a course at a commercial college in Lexington. Returning to the parental homestead, he assisted in its management until 1879, when, with a cousin, he embarked in mercantile pursuits, opening a general store at Berry, under the firm name of King and Lafferty. Selling out to his partner at the end of two years, Mr. Lafferty again returned to his early home, and there worked on the farm until 1893. Becoming superintendent and manager in that year of the Robinson Milling Company, at Robinson Station, he retained the position ten years and four months, a good record of service, Investing his money then in land, Mr. Lafferty purchased eighty-seven" acres adjoining his father's place, on the opposite side of the pike, however, and to the original purchase has since added other land, having now a finely improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he has put all the improvements, which are numerous and substantial his farm comparing favorably in its appoint-, ments with any in the neighborhood. Mr. Lafferty has been three times married. He married first, in September, 1886, Mollie Taylor, who was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, in 1856. She died January 11, 1889, leaving a three-days' old son, Wayne T. Lafferty, who is living with his father. In 1893 Mr. Lafferty married for his second wife Annie Valentine, who at her death, in 1896, left one son, James V., then eighteen months of age. Mr. Lafferty married, October 22, 1901, Mary Hayes, a daughter of J. E. Hayes, of Harrison county, and they are the parents of two children, Charles E. and Fannie F. Politically Mr. Lafferty is a Democrat, and socially he belongs to the Grange. Both he and his wife are members of the Breckinridge Christian church. -- Bob Francis 1920A Butner St. Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 My Homepage is: http://www.shawhan.com Ruddell's Fort Page: http://www.shawhan.com/ruddlesfort.html Early Bourbon County Families Page: http://www.shawhan.com/bourbonfamilies.html