Souvenir Edition, The Williamstown Courier, Williamstown, Ky, May 30, 
1901, reprinted September 19, 1981 by the Grant County KY Historical
Society.

HON. J. C. TOMLIN is a native of Grant County and was born in the house
in which he now resides.  His father was Asa Tomlin, for many years a
preacher in the Baptist Church, and a historic old character.  His
mother was Miss Nancy J. Franks.  His two great-grandfathers were John 
M. Tomlin and Jacob Franks.  Jacob Tomlin immigrated to the United 
States from Germany and settled in Culpeper County, Virginia.  Jacob 
Franks emigrated to the United States from Germany, and first settled 
in the District of Michigan, but afterward migrated to Kentucky and 
settled at what is now the village of Mount Zion.  The grandfather of 
J. C. Tomlin was Christian Tomlin, and he was born on the Atlantic Ocean
while his parents were on their way from Germany to this country.  He 
was reared in Virginia and married to a daughter of a Revolutionary 
soldier named Wright.  He was a farmer, a doctor and Baptist preacher.  
He moved from Virginia to Brown County, Ohio, and from there to 
Pendleton County, Kentucky.  Asa Tomlin, the Baptist preacher, was born 
in Brown County, Ohio, and came with his father to Kentucky, where he 
was reared.  John Franks, the grandfather of J. C. Tomlin on his 
mother's side, was born in the District of Michigan, and came from there
to Kentucky with his parents more than one hundred years ago.  His 
grandmother Franks was named Elizabeth Cowgill, and his and his 
grandmother Tomlin was named Lucinda Wright.  His father and 
grandfather were both preachers, and according to the old English law,
he was born a gentleman and has demeaned himself so in this county as to
preserve the title, as his friends and neighbors will readily testify.
     Mr. Tomlin had the advantages of a common school education,
attending the Mount Zion public school three months in the year for many
years.  While not in school he was working on his father's farm,
"digging for gold" as it is a proverbial fact that the farmers have dug 
more gold out of the ground than all of the miners in the world.
     His people and his father and mother were slave holders, and so was
the young man Tomlin, of whom we are trying to write; but he never
believed that human slavery was right.  When the war came on in 1861 he 
cast his fortunes with the Union side, and enlisted as a soldier to 
fight the battles of his country.  He enlisted in the United States 
service at Williamstown in Grant County, about one mile south of 
Williamstown, at Camp Combs, October 23, 1861, as a private in Company 
B., 18th Regular Kentucky Volunteer Infantry.  He was promoted to 
corporal and sergeant, and served with distinction during the entire 
war.  He was mustered out of the service at Goldsborough, North 
Carolina, April 4, 1865.  During his service he was commanded by 
Generals Palmer, Thomas and Davis.  Helped to hold Chattanooga four 
months on one-fourth rations.  Was in nearly all of the battles and 
skirmishes of the corps and was under fire more than sixty days and 
parts of days.  Was in Sherman's march to the sea, and then march north 
through North and South Carolina, and was finally discharged.  He says 
now that his company should have been called "the rough walkers".  Mr. 
Tomlin's record as a soldier is without a blemish. He was in Washington 
when the President was assassinated on the 14th day of April, 1865.
     Leaving the army for good he set his race toward the home of his
youth and arrived at Mount Zion on the 20 day of April, 1865.  Since
that time he has married and raised a family, and has been a first-class
citizen.  He was commissioned to fill the vacancy in the Magisterial 
district of Mount Zion caused by the death of his Uncle Barnette Franks,
and was re-elected and commissioned to fill the next term in a strong
Democratic district.  Mr. Tomlin has been a farmer all of his life, and
owns a nice farm and a good substantial home.  He is a Baptist in
religion and a Republican in politics.  Mr. Tomlin was appointed to take
the census last June in his district, and received a very complimentary 
letter in regard to his work.
     September 7, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie
Bondurant of Boone County.  To this union two children were born, Archie
and Eva Tomlin.  His first wife died in August, 1867, in Belle Plains, 
Iowa, where he temporarily located.  Later he was united in marriage to 
Dora C. Stevens, a great-niece of William Hume.  This last marriage was 
September 7, 1873.  To this last union the following children were born.
R. Early Tomlin, Misses L. Tomlin, Ona Tomlin, Rosa Tomlin (now dead), 
Lidie M. Tomlin and Panzie M. Tomlin, all grown young ladies at home.
     Mr. Tomlin is an honest, successful business man and an honor to
his county and the neighborhood in which he resides.

Tomlin Franks Wright Cowgill Bondurant Stevens Hume Palmer Thomas Davis
=
Pendleton-KY Boone-KY Culpeper-VA Brown-OH IA MI NC SC Germany

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