History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed.
by William Henry Perrin,  O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882.  p. 801.
[Bourbon County]  [Paris and Precinct]

JOHN GIVENS CRADDOCK, was born in Harrison County, near the Bourbon line,
and about nine miles from Paris; during his boyhood his father resided
part of the time in Bourbon and part in Harrison, without changing
neighborhood.  His father, Richard Clough Craddock, was a Virginia, born
in Amelia County; his mother, Ruth Givens, was born in Mecklenburg County,
N. C., his father lived to be called, as he was, an old bachelor before
marrying; while traveling from Virginia home to some lands owned by him
in Green river country, Ky., he stopped for the night with an old Virginia
friend near the Bourbon and Harrison County line, who said to him,
"Craddock, why don't you marry?  The best woman I ever knew in my life
lives just over the way; she is of a highly respected family, her husband,
Maj. John Givens, having died while a member of the Legislature, and
although she has six children, there is an ample estate to take care of
them."  The old bachelor so little thought of every marrying that he had
given a great part of his estate to his widowed sister and her children;
especially did he feel that he would as soon think of suiciding as
marrying a widow with six children; he had his horse caught to pursue
his journey, when a storm came up and prevented his leaving, causing him
to stay over; that afternoon he met the widow, and at once surrendered;
he felt that she was the woman that the Lord intended him to marry; had
there been sixteen children instead of six, it would have made no
difference.  They married, and had two children born to them; the first
one a daughter, Anna Craddock, died a young lady; the second, John G.,
resides in Paris, Ky., and is editor and proprietor of the Paris True
Kentuckian.  His father died suddenly, at the homestead, March 4, 1849,
aged seventy-two years; his mother died in Paris in 1852.  In religious
faith she was Presbyterian, but followed her husband into the Methodist
Church, caring little for sects, but cherishing the spirit of Christianity
to the end of life.  John G. Craddock was educated chiefly in the schools
and academies in his vicinity, and commenced the study of medicine in
conjunction with a favorite friend, John Sidney Smith, born in the same
neighborhood, on the same night as himself, and by agreement of parents
were both named John, and pledged as friends for life; while attending
lectures at the medical college in Lexington, the second call for
volunteers for the war with Mexico was published; he at once volunteered
and was made an officer in a company organized by the then Lieutenant
Jno. H. Morgan, who at a later day became the famed General Morgan; but
the company, in the lottery by which companies were drawn for service,
failed to win a place.  He then came to Paris and was mustered into
Capt. W. E. Simms' company of volunteers; went with it to Mexico,
served through his time and was safely returned; taking up his residence
in Paris shortly afterwards, and having a decided predilection for
journalism; he passed several years in reading, and making voluntary
contributions to the papers of the day.  In 1857 he was associated with
Col. W. E. Simms in conducting and publishing the Kentucky State Flag,
at Paris.  The paper was discontinued at the commencement of the late
civil war; after the termination of that unhappy conflict, and the minds
of the people began to settle into business channels, Mr. C. [sic]
established the Paris True Kentuckian, the first number of which was
issued Feb. 22, 1866; he has been editor and proprietor from its
commencement, and has secured for it a circulation and influence far
surpassing any other county newspaper ever published in the State.  He
has never been connected with any church organization, though a friend and
patron of every denomination.  At the late meetings of Rev. Geo. O. Barnes,
held in Paris, he was the first person to advance and make confession, and
is an enthusiastic admirer of the great evangelist.

Craddock Givens Simms Barnes
=
Harrison-KY Amelia-VA Mecklenburg-NC

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/bourbon/craddock.jg.txt