J. T. WYATT was born in Caldwell County, Ky., February 28, 1816, and is a son of Zedick and Mary (Cameron) Wyatt; the former was born in Virginia, the latter in South Carolina. The father of our subject ran away from Virginia in 1789, when he was but nine years of age, and came to what was then Christian County, Ky., and hired out to a farmer living on Piny Creek, He worked as a laborer until he was twenty-four years old, then settled down in what is now Crittenden County, then Livingston County. There he bought 200 acres of land, and resided until 1813, when he came to Caldwell County, and settled on a farm within five miles of where J. T. is now living. He first purchased 300 acres, but subsequently increased the size of the farm, until he owned at one time about 1,100 acres. He also paid some attention to the raising of fine stock, and to stock trading. He died in March, 1843. A short time before the battle of New Orleans, he enlisted in a company that was being formed for duty in the South, but hardly had the soldiers started, when the news of the battle was received, and he came home. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject is the seventh of ten children, of whom but three are now living: Frank, in this district; Polly, wife of Frank Darby, of Princeton, and J. T. The latter's education was received in the old field schools of the country. He remained at home until he was twenty-five, and then settled down on a part of the home farm, where he remained one year, and then came to his present farm. Here he first bought 200 acres, and has since, by his own industry, increased it until he now owns 800 acres, of which there are about 650 acres in cultivation. He was also engaged upward of sixteen years as a merchant in Fredonia, and for over twenty years as a buyer and re-handler of tobacco. Mr. Wyatt was married December 23, 1840, to Miss Mary Jane Crider, a daughter of Jacob and Orpha (Bivens) Crider, natives of Virginia. The result of this union has been ten children, of whom the following are now living: Jasper, in Princeton; Jacob J., Frank, E. J., at Walnut Grove, and Orphetta. Mr. Wyatt and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Fredonia.

 

Source:  J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 716.