DR. JAMES T. SOYARS, of Webster County, was born January 11, 1838, in Christian County, Ky., removed in 1847 with his father to Hopkins County, where he was reared, and in 1861 enlisted in Company A, First Kentucky Cavalry, and after serving on Gen. Helm's staff, and in the secret service, was captured, and released in 1864. His father, Col. John Soyars, a native of Pittsylvania County, Va., was born in 1805; removed to Kentucky in 1832, and died in 1871. He was the son of James Soyars, of Pittsylvania County, Va., who entered the Revolutionary army at the age of sixteen, and served four years; was at Valley Forge with Washington: marched three days barefoot on ice, with frozen feet; was wounded, captured and paroled near the close of the war, and returned to his home, where he died in 1845, aged eighty years. He was twice married, and the father of nine sons and seven daughters, all of whom reared families. He was magistrate, high sheriff and representative sixteen years in his county. Having served under Gen. Lafayette, he was one of the committee of reception during that gentleman's last visit to America. James' father, an Englishman, a civil engineer, was lost with a surveying party in the West. John married Elizabeth, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth Cannon, of Halifax County, Va. (born in 1805 and died in 1844), and from their union sprang Edward C. (deceased), subject, Mary F. (Orton) and two infants. Dr. James T. Soyars was married, December 12, 1871, to Miss Medora, daughter of William A. and Catherine (Harding) Oglesby (born July 20, 1850), of Daviess County, and to them have been born six children, four of whom died in infancy, while Mary I. and Ione M. are now living. In 1858 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. D. A. DeForest, of Ashbysburgh, Ky., and in 1869 attended lectures at Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in 1861. In 1864 he located at Slaughterville, where he has since enjoyed a lucrative practice. He has been advanced ten degrees in the order of A. F. & A. M., and is now High Priest of the chapter. In politics he is a Democrat.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 1049.