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

JOHN W. ORSBURN was born in what is now Webster County, Ky., July 5, 1828,
son of Randolph and Frances (Mooney) Orsburn.  He is one of a numerous
family and is of Scotch-Irish descent.  His father was a North Carolinian,
born in Rutherford County, October 13, 1795, and his mother was born in the
same county in 1799.  The Orsburns came originally from Scotland.
Subject's father emigrated from North Carolina to Henderson County Ky., in
1818, and died in 1868.  The mother of our subject died four years before
his father's death.  Mr. Orsburn, on coming of age, began farming for
himself, and has since continued that occupation, save a short time when he
resided in Sebree.  His farm, which is one of the finest in Webster County,
is located about three miles west of Sebree, and contains 550 acres.  He
was married April 24, 1851 to Miss Nancy S. Whitsell, a native of Hopkins
County, Ky., born July 23, 1832.  The Whitsell family came from Georgia.
To Mr. and Mrs. Orsburn have been born eleven children:  Arbelia, Mary F.,
Anna C., Lynn B., Sallie F., Donia E., Luke T., John G., Charles M.,
William R., and James M.  Mr. and Mrs. Orsburn are members of the Christian
Church.  For fifty-six years, Mr. Orsburn has resided near where he was
born, and is one of the few men, now living, who have resided in Webster
County for more than a half century.  He is a Democrat.

Orsburn Mooney Whitsell
=
Rutherford-NC Henderson Hopkins GA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/webster/orsburn.jw.txt