Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 746-748 [Graves]

     JOHN LENIHAN, one of the old and respected residents of Graves
county, has had a career of successful endeavor since coming to this
county over half a century ago, and is the object of especial esteem
in the county of his adoption, where he has spent the best years of
his life in honest labor.  He is one of the many sons of Ireland who
have come to this country without money and seeking opportunity to
make an honorable place in life.  He found his sphere of activity on
this county, and none can find fault with the manner in which he has
discharged his duties as a citizen and a man.
     Mr. Lenihan comes of a family which had lived in Ireland for
many generations before his birth.  He was born in county Waterford,
on Christmas day, 1831, a son of Michael and Mary (Brien) Lenihan,
the former of whom was a successful merchant of Dungarvan, Ireland. 
Both parents were devout Roman Catholics.  They died when John was a
small boy, and he has but slight recollection of them.
     John and his brother Maurice were the only children, and they
both came to America when John was seventeen years old.  Maurice
located in New Orleans, where he was employed by the Harrison Morgan
Steamship Company, and was finally given full charge of their
business and was on the highroad to prosperity.  But the breaking
out of the Civil war ruined the business, and after it was over
Maurice, who sympathized with the Confederate cause, traveled about
the country and finally died at Santiago, on the Brazos river in
Texas.
     John Lenihan had learned the tailor's trade before coming to
America, and on locating in the town of Mayfield, Kentucky, he at
once began to ply his craft.  He engaged in this pursuit for twenty
years, and by close attention to business and honesty in dealing
soon commanded an excellent trade.  During the Civil war he was a
sutler in the Union army in Companies A and B, First Illinois
Cavalry, for four years, and during that time was taken prisoner
five times, but managed to escape each time.  While in business in
Mayfield he bought a farm on the Sedalia road, two miles from
Mayfield, and containing ninety acres of well improved land, and he
and his wife afterwards moved out to this place, and have since been
engaged in the cultivation.  It is a delightful place in which to
spend their declining years, and they have a happy home there and
are contented with its comforts.
     Mr. Lenihan has always adhered to the principles of the
Republican party.  He married in 1859 to Miss Mary Panix, a native
of Dover, Tennessee.  They have had the following children: John,
Maurice, Mollie, Thomas, Rose, Patrick, Robert, William and Mattie. 
The name of Lenihan is respected in Graves county, and the younger
generation is adding its quota towards sustaining the family record
for honesty of purpose and action and strict adherence to duty.

Lenihan Brien Morgan Panix
=
Ireland LA TX

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/graves/lenihan.j.txt