W. C. LISMAN was born in Hopkins County, now Webster County, Ky., on Deer Creek, and is a son of John and Martha (Cavanah) Lisman. The father was born in Indiana in 1795, and at the age of fifteen years moved to Henderson County, Ky., where he followed the blacksmith's trade for about nine years, after which he removed to Hopkins County. There he carried on his trade until forced to abandon it on account of old age. He died in Henderson County, in 1866. Subject's mother was born in North Carolina in 1800, and died in 1866. W. C. Lisman came to his present location when about twenty years old, and opened a blacksmith shop which he ran about three years, when he was forced to give up the trade on account of ill health. He then bought seventy acres of land and engaged in farming. He has kept adding to his possessions, and has owned as high as 800 acres of land. He now owns about 600 acres, about one-half of which is fenced. He began life with nothing, and by his own energy and close attention to business has placed himself in comfortable circumstances. He was married, in March, 1841, to Mary Rice, of this county. Eleven children have blessed this union, of whom eight are now living—four sons and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Lisman are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he became a member as early as 1844.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 1038.