Kentucky:  A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 
1886. Monroe County.

BENJAMIN T. CHISM was born October 3, 1852, in Monroe County, Ky., on 
the farm where he now resides.  His father, James T. Chism, was born 
June 3, 1810, in Monroe County, Ky.; married Sarah T. E. Duncan, who 
bore him seven children.  He was a slave holder, and at the time of the 
emancipation proclamation lost twenty four negroes.  He owned a 
plantation of 500 acres, and was a most successful farmer.  He was a 
strong Union man, and during the war brought horses and stock for the 
Federal Army.  During the years of 1845-47 he was sheriff of Monroe 
County, Ky.; was a farmer by choice; a member of the A. F. & A. M., and 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, with which he was connected for 
thirty-seven years, and for several years was assistant superintendent 
of the Sabbath-school.  He died December 11, 1884.  Benjamin T. is 
looking after his father's estate and caring for his widowed mother, for 
whom he has a great love and veneration.  His early educational 
advantages wre not of the best - free schools contuining only three 
months of the year, during which time he learned to read and write, 
helping on the farm the remainder of the year.  He attended Warren 
College, Bowling Green, Ky., four months, but his health failing, he 
returned home, since which time he has spent many hours with his books 
and papers, and is now a man of varied information.  He is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, and in October, 1879, represented his lodge in 
the Grand Lodge at Louisville, Ky.  He is also a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school 
for the past four years. Politically he is identified with the 
Democratic party.

Chism Duncan
=
Bowling Green-Warren Louisville-Jefferson

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/monroe/chism.bt.txt