Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 552-554 [McCracken]

     WILLIAM HENRY RICH.  More than twenty five years of active
business life in Princeton, Kentucky, entitles William Henry Rich to
rank with the pioneer merchants of the town.  Mr. Rich is a native
of Kentucky.  He was born in what was then Caldwell but now Lyon
county, near Eddyville, December 28, 1845, and on the paternal side
traces his ancestry to England.  Several generations of the family,
however, have been residents of this country.  His grandfather,
William Rich, and his father, Jesse Rich, were natives of Tennessee. 
In an early day the family moved from Tennessee to Illinois and
shortly afterward came to Kentucky, where Jesse Rich was reared and
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm near Eddyville,
in Caldwell county.  He died in the prime of life, at the age of
thirty-seven years.  The mother of our subject was Julia Ann
Holesapple before her marriage.  She was a native of Caldwell county
and a daughter of one of the pioneers of that county, who had moved
to this state from Virginia.  He was of German origin.  Jesse and
Julia Ann Rich were the parents of five children, all of whom
reached adult age, namely: William Henry; Mary Jane, deceased; James
M., who resides on the old Rich homestead four miles west of
Princeton; Sarah E., wife of Andrew George, a resident of Caldwell
county, Kentucky; and Nancy Jane, widow of James Holloway, also a
resident of Caldwell county.
     William Henry Rich was reared on his father's farm, receiving
his education in the common schools near his home, and when a young
man began teaching school, intending to follow teaching for a
livelihood.  Two terms, however, were sufficient to convince him
that some other occupation would be more congenial to his taste, so
he turned his attention to teaming, and the next five years was
occupied in hauling goods form Eddyville to Princeton.  Next he
engaged in merchandising at Dulaney, Kentucky, where he was in
business three years, and whence, in 1877, he came to Princeton. 
His first business venture here was in a meat market, which he ran
for a year and a half,.  Then he bought a half interest in a stock
of groceries and liquors, soon afterward purchased the other half,
and in January, 1880, took in as partner a Mr. Miller, and the firm
became Miller & Rich, and continued as such until October 15, 1885,
when Mr. Rich bought his partner's interest and three months later
closed out the liquor department of the business, adding in its
stead a stock of confectionery.  Later he added hardware, and still
later harness and saddles, and has since run a general store,
carrying all these lines of goods and doing a prosperous business.
     During his long residence here Mr. Rich has always taken an
active interest in public affairs, has served as a member of the
city council, and for five years was city clerk.  He is a Democrat
politically.  Fraternally he is identified with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and is secretary of the lodge at Princeton.
     While a resident of Dulaney Mr. Rich was married, in 1875, to
Miss Josephine E. Selles, daughter of Reuben and Emily Selles, of
Caldwell county.  Mrs. Rich having been born in that part of
Caldwell county which in now Lyon county.  Of the four children born
to Mr. and Mrs. Rich, two died in infancy.  The others are Ida Lee,
wife of P.A. Steele, a conductor on the Illinois Central Railroad;
and Charles S., who is associated in business with his father.

Rich Holesapple George Holloway Miller Selles Steele
=
Caldwell-KY Lyon-KY England TN IL VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/mccracken/rich.wh.txt