Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 665-667 [Graves]

     JOHN H. TORIAN is one of the enterprising and respected
residents of Graves county, and has lived on the old farm in this
county for nearly half a century.  He has overstepped the three
score and ten mark by several years, and still retains some of the
freshness and vigor of his earlier manhood, when he could have vied
with anyone in feats of endurance and hard work.  Diligent labor has
been the keynote of his entire life, and he has never tried to win
surcease from toil as a goal of happiness, for work has been second
nature with him, and therein has constituted his happiness.  He has
lived the life of an intelligent, upright and esteemed citizen, and
in whatever relation he has touched society has done his duty and
shared in the obligations which fall to all true citizens.
     Mr. Torian is a member of an old Virginia family, but his
earliest ancestors were Irish.  His grandfather, Andrew Torian, was
a native of the Old Dominion, and from there went for service in the
Revolutionary war, so that his descendants are entitled to
membership in the order of the Sons and Daughters of the American
Revolution.  Mr. Torian's father was also named Andrew, and was born
in Halifax county, Virginia, where he made his home until grown, and
he then removed to Christian county, Kentucky, and in 1865 came to
Graves county, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in
1883 at the advanced age of ninety-three years.  He was a Democrat,
and his religion was that of the Missionary Baptist church.  His
wife was Bettie (Finch) Torian, also a native of Halifax county,
Virginia, and of English descent, and she survived her husband and
passed away at the age of eighty-five.  The following children were
born to them: John H.; James T., also mentioned below; Andrew,
deceased; Sarah; Martha, deceased; Bettie, deceased; Catherine;
Millie; Nancy, deceased; and Mary.
     John H. Torian was born in Halifax county, Virginia, January 8,
1826, but was reared in Christian county, Kentucky.  He came to
Graves county in 1858 with his brother James, and they purchased two
hundred and twenty acres of land and engaged in farming.  This tract
was the nucleus of the estate which has since been built up by the
brothers.  It has been a rather unusual characteristic of this
family that they have always "hung together" harmoniously and with
co-operative effort working out the problem of life, and herein lies
the secret of their success.  In 1882 Mr. Torian and his brother
built a flour and sawmill, and continued its successful operation
for sixteen years.  Mr. Torian now owns two hundred and thirty acres
three miles from Mayfield on the Sedalia road.  He has never
married, and has always remained the most pleasant homes in the
vicinity.  Mr. Torian has always given his support to the Democratic
candidates, and he and the rest of the family are all members of the
Baptist church.  His brother James T., who always worked with him,
was born in Halifax county, Virginia, January 22, 1832, and in 1875
married Miss Ellen Grant.  He is now deceased.

Torian Finch Grant
=
Halifax-VA Ireland Christian-KY England

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/graves/torian.jh.txt