Kentucky – A History of the State by Perrin, 1885

Hickman County, Kentucky

James L. Trevathan, of Hickman County, was born in North Carolina, December 13, 1829, and is the second of thirteen children born to Eli and Mary E. (Robinson) Trevathan, natives of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, and of English descent. Eli Trevathan received an excellent education in youth, especially in mathematics, at which he excelled, and in early life taught school for several years. In 1833 he removed with his family to Robinson County, Tennessee, where he was engaged in farming and in the distilling business for some three years, when he removed to Paris, Henry County, Tennessee, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and at teaching until 1852, when he came to Columbus, Hickman County, Kentucky, where he was principally engaged in teaching until his death, which occurred December, 1878, in his seventy-seventh year. Mr. Trevathan belonged to no church, but held to the Universalist faith. Mrs. Trevathan was a devoted member of the Primitive Baptist Church. James L. Trevathan was employed on his father’s farm until he was fifteen years old, after which he was employed at brick-making and brick-laying for some five years. In 1853 and 1854 he was employed in the steam saw-mill at Columbus. In 1855 he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he was overseer of the chain gang for one year. He then returned to Columbus, and thence to New Madrid, Missouri, where he taught dancing school for one year. He then went to Rolla, Tennessee, where he taught a dancing school for another year. In 1859 he returned to Columbus, Kentucky, and in 1862 enlisted in Company L, Eighth Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, United States service, and served eight months, when he was discharged on account of disability. He then returned to Columbus, where he has since been employed as a carpenter and brick mason, when able to work at all. He was married March 23, 1848, to Miss Sarah E. Howell, a native of Sumner County, Tennessee. Ten children, three sons and seven daughters, have blessed their union. Mr. Trevathan belongs to no church, but holds to the Universalist faith. He is a Republican in politics.