DR. M. BRISTOW, Crittenden County, was born in Essex County, Va., May 20, 1806, and is a son of Sanders and Jane (Abbott) Bristow, natives of Virginia and of English descent. His father died in 1810, and in 1811 the mother came to Kentucky with her family and settled in Jessamine County, where she resided until her death, which occurred about 1816. After his mother's death he remained with his uncle until about sixteen years of age, when he came to Morganfield, Ky., and began working out for himself. He remained there until twenty-one years of age, and then came to Crittenden County and followed farming and shoe-making. In 1832 he settled on his present farm. He first entered fifty acres and subsequently owned 440 acres, a part of which has since been divided among his children. In 1832 he began reading medicine by himself, and soon after began the active practice of his profession, which for the past fifty-five years he has followed. He is now one of the oldest practitioners in the county, and is still in active practice. Dr. Bristow was married in November, 1828, to Miss Elizabeth Hill, daughter of William Hill; she died in November, 1829. His second marriage was May 1, 1832, to Miss Sarah Gilbert, a daughter of Moulton and Nancy (Kane) Gilbert. Mrs. Sarah Bristow was born in Tennessee, in 1812, and is the mother of eight children, of whom five are now living: Ira; Elizabeth, widow of Francis Woods; Susan, wife of Harvey Hughes; Ann, wife of John Heath, and Nancy J., wife of Marion Daniel. Dr. Bristow is a member of Zion Lodge, No. 371, A. F. & A. M., Crittenden Chapter No. 70, and Wingate Council No. 35. He is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 719-720.