Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed.,
1885, Edmonson County.

JAMES S. LAY was born October 21, 1853, in Warren County, Ky., to John W.
and Mary Jane (Dishman) Lay, natives of Jackson County, Tenn., and Warren
Cunty, Ky.  He is the eldest in a family of four boys and four girls; two
of each lived to maturity.  John W. was a son of Stephen B. and Elizabeth
(McNew) lay, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively.  He
came to Warren County, Ky., about 1840, and engaged in farming until 1879,
when he located on a farm near Brownsville.  Stephen R. immigrated in an
early day with his parents to eastern Tennessee, and after his marriage he
moved to Barren County, Ky.; thence to Warren County, Ky., where he is
still living, at the age of about seventy-nine; he was a captain in the
State militia, and is the son of John Lay, who married Polly Blevins, of
North Carolina.  They emigrated to east Tennessee, thence to Kentucky,
whre they were engaged in farming until their death.  John Lay was a
slave-holder and a solder in the war of 1812; he was of English descent. 
Mrs. Mary Jane Lay was the daughter of James and Esther (Keel) Dishman,
natives of Botetourt County, Va., and Warren County, Ky., respectively. 
James S. was reared on a farm, and after attaining maturity taught school
four years in Warrren and Edmonson Counties.  In 1878 he commenced the
study of law with Judges J. E. Halsell and Mitchell, of Bowling Green, and
was admitted to the bar the same year.  In 1879 he located at Brownsville,
and engaged in the practice of his profession, meeting with success.  In
August, 1882, he was elected county attorney.  He married, October 25,
1878, Fannie Lewis, of Warren County, a daughter of William M. and
Elizabth Lewis, natives of Warren County, and of French origin.  Mr. and
Mrs. Lay are members of the Christian Church, and are the parents of two
sons, Clarence C. and Harold A., and one daughter, Vera Shelley.  Mr. Lay
was formerly a Granger, and cast his first presidential vote for S. J.
Tilden.

Law Dishman McNew Blevins Keel Halsell Mitchell Lewis Tilden
=
Bowling_Green-Warren-KY Jackson-TN NC Barren-KY Botetourt-VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/edmonson/lay.js.txt