WILLIAM H. ROCHESTER was born in Caldwell County, Ky., October 10, 1819. His father, Nathaniel Rochester, was born in Virginia, and when quite young came to Kentucky with his parents, who settled in Knox County. In 1818 he moved to Princeton, Caldwell County, where he ran a hotel for several years, and later purchased a farm, about one mile from the county seat, where he died in 1873, aged ninety-three years. The maiden name of subject's mother was Mildred Johnson. She was a daughter of Thomas Johnson, one of the early pioneers of Knox County, and died about 1832. The following children were born to Nathaniel and Mildred Rochester: Lucy (deceased), John J. (deceased), Sydney S., Thomas (deceased), William H., Elizabeth J., Margaret (deceased), Charles (deceased), and Henry (deceased). William H. was thrown on his own resources at the age of fourteen years; he chose blacksmithing as his life work, learning the trade in Cadiz, Trigg County, where he remained two years, and at the end of that time went to Princeton, working in that city about the same length of time. He next went to Hopkinsville, where he completed his trade, and then came back to Princeton, and opened a shop of his own, which he operated a short time. He moved from Princeton to Salem, Livingston County, remained at the latter place several years, and then came to Marion, where he worked at his trade for fifteen years. In 1850 he quit blacksmithing and purchased a farm about six miles from Marion, on which he lived until 1853, when he returned to Marion. In 1857 he purchased his present beautiful farm of 250 acres, one mile east o£ Marion, and since that time has been actively engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Rochester was married March 10, 1842, to Margaret A., daughter of Nathaniel Gray of Tennessee. The following children have been born to this union: Ophelia J. (wife of Dudley Wallingford), Anna B. (deceased), Phoebe M., Mary H., William N., Joseph G. present county attorney; Lizzie (deceased), and Margaret A. (wife of William Johnson). Mr. Rochester has filled several official positions; he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and in politics votes with the Democratic party. He and family belong to 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 736-737.