Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 4th ed., 1887,
Madison County.

JUDGE JOHN C. CHENAULT was born on Muddy Creek, Madison County, April 21,
1855, and is the eldest of the five sons born to Robert and Josephine
(Cavins) Chenault.  Robert was a native of Madison County; was born in
1824; was a farmer and slaveholder, and the first of the Chenault family
to cast a Democratic vote.  He died in March, 1881, a member of the
Baptist Church.  His father, Cabell Chenault, was born in 1795 on the
banks of the Kentucky River in Madison County; married Emily, daughter of
Andrew Mitchell, of Henry County; had a family of ten children, of whom
six sons and two daughters were reared, Robert being the eldest, and died
in 1878, a member of the Baptist Church.  David Chenault, his father, was
born in Albemarle County, Va., September 30, 1771; came to Kentucky with
his parents in 1786; married Nancy Tribble, daughter of Elder Andrew
Tribble, of Madison County in 1793; joined the church in 1795 and soon
afterward became a minister.  He was an extensive farmer and accumulated
a fortune of not less than $100,000.  He was a magistrate for over twenty
years, and died May 9, 1851, the father of ten children: Cabell, Harvey,
David, Waller, Tandy, Anderson, John, Joicy, Sallie and Nancy.  David
Chenault was the son of William, who was born in Virginia; was of French
parentage; served under Washington in the Revolution, came to Kentucky
in 1786, and settled about three miles north of Richmond.  Mrs. Josephine
(Cavins) Chenault is a daughter of John and Polly (Pruett) Cavins, natives
of Fayette County and descendants of Fayette's early settlers.  John C.
Chenault was reared on the home farm; received a fair education and when of
age purchased the necessary books and commended the study of law.  For two
years he attended the law department of Central University and was
admitted to the bar in January, 1878.  In January 1880, he was appointed
police judge of Richmond, and held the office until June, 1884. In August,
1884, he was elected to fill an unexpired term as county judge, and in
1886 elected to the office without opposition.  In his first race he
received the vote of John G. Fee, president of Berea College, who for the
first time cast his vote for a Democrat.  The Judge was married December
16, 1884, to Miss Elinor B., daughter of Otheniel and Sidney (Noland)
Oldham, of Madison County.  The Judge is a Free Mason and Odd Fellow and a
member of the Baptist Church; his wife is a member of the Christian Church.

Chenault Cavins Mitchell Tribble Pruett Fee Noland Oldham
=
Henry-KY Fayette-KY Albemarle-VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/madison/chenault.jc.txt