Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 1885,
Butler Co.

WILLIAM G. ABBOTT was born in Butler County, Ky., April 30, 1835.  At the
age of eleven years, he began to earn his living, which he did by fishing
and selling fish in Rochester, Butler County; this he continued for several
years; then hired to a farmer to drive plow for 10 cents per day, which he
continued for three seasons, and was always happy on Saturday night with
six dimes in his pockets; at the age of fourteen, being from home, he
received notice of the death of his step-father.  He mounted a wild mule
and started home; the mule threw him and cut his head badly, but,
undaunted, he continued his journey, after having his wound sewed up by a
farmer on the way.  After the death of his step-father, young Abbott
constituted himself the guardian and supporter of his mother and her
children, Josephine, Sarah, Jane and George Washington.  He remained with
them until he was twenty-one years of age.  In the meantime, he had settled
in Ohio County on some military land, known as the Fitz-Hugh survey.  After
three years he sold his improvement, and bought 200 acres in Butler County,
where he settled and remained one year, then left his mother on the farm,
where she lived until she again married, twelve years later.  During this
period, Mr. Abbott worked at stone-cutting at Paradise for a while [sic],
then worked for W. D. Coleman for eighteen months, for $18 per month;
bought a ferry on Green River, which he operated for two years; sold the
ferry and went into a general merchandising business in Paradise, Ky.,
where he built a fine residence, but lost considerable money on account of
the failure of the iron works and discontinuance of coal mining.  March 24,
1861, he married Annie A. Nourse, of Butler County; they are the parents of
nine children, of whom there are living: Cordelia, Christian S., Olive,
Inez, Ettie, Nola and Murnie M.  In 1862, Mr. Abbott was commissioned a
lieutenant in the Home Guards in Muhlenburgh [sic] County, and in 1863
joined the Federal army.  He enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth Kentucky
Volunteers; fought under Gen. Sherman in the Georgia campaigns, and from
Atlanta to Richmond; was discharged in July, 1865, when he returned to
Kentucky, and engaged in farming until 1883; served as a peace officer in
his native State nine years, and in 1883, was elected magistrate, which
office he now holds.  He owns 400 acres of good land, well improved; also
owns the best hotel property in Rochester, besides small stock in the
Rochester Roller mills, and in the Rochester Academy.  Mr. Abbott is
thorough in business, and has acquired his property by his own industry and
perseverance.  In politics he is a Republican; his religious views are
based on charity to mankind, and fulfillment of personal obligations.

Abbott Coleman Nourse
=
Ohio-KY Muhlenberg-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/butler/abbott.wg.txt