ASA ALVIS, Livingston County, was born June 17, 1812, in Sumner County, Tenn. Mr. Alvis traces his paternal ancestry to Virginia, but has no definite knowledge of the family beyond the grandfather, whose name was Ashley Alvis. Ashley Alvis was born in Buckingham County, Va., but left his native State as early as 1806, immigrating to Sumner County, Tenn. He served in the war of the Revolution, and was with Washington's army during the seven years of that struggle. Abraham Alvis, subject's father, was born in Virginia and immigrated to Tennessee two years after his father. He served in the war of 1812, and in the Indian campaigns of Florida. He was a farmer by occupation, and died about 1854. Love (Ventress) Alvis, subject's mother, was born in North Carolina, and was a daughter of David Ventress. She died in 1836. The family of Abraham and Love Alvis consisted of two children, viz.: infant (deceased), and Asa, subject of this sketch. Asa Alvis was reared in his native county, and at the age of twenty years commenced working for himself at different vocations. In 1837 he purchased a farm in Sumner County, and May 3, of the same year was married to Blanche Jackson, daughter of Bartholomew and Martha (Clark) Jackson, of North Carolina. After marriage he commenced farming, and resided upon his farm for a period of nine years, at the end of which time he disposed of it and purchased other tracts of real estate in different parts of Tennessee. In 1858 he moved to Kentucky, and purchased his present farm of 369 acres of choice land in Livingston County, one-half mile from Salem village. By his first marriage, Mr. Alvis had a family of ten children, four of whom are living, viz.: Abraham B., Zachariah H., W. O. and Ashley G. The deceased children were named as follows: David L., Robert H., Martha D., Mary C., James G. and Charles L. After thirty years of wedded life Mrs. Alvis died March, 1869. Mr. Alvis' second marriage took place in the latter part of the last named year, with Mrs. Mabel Baxter, daughter of Henry and Charlotte Alley, of Livingston County. This marriage has been blessed with the following children: Alda, Asa, Ada, Electa, Ophelia and Mabel. Mr. Alvis is a very successful farmer and stock raiser, and his life has been characterized by an untiring industry. He is a member of the Baptist Church, to which he has belonged for about forty years, and also belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 809.