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

JAMES A. WITHERS was born November 4, 1847, in Hart County, Ky., where
he was reared to manhood. In 1867 he located in the north part of
Metcalfe County, where he has since resided.  His father, James Withers,
a native of Barren County, is now living at the age of seventy-six
years.  He is the son of Charles and Rhoda Withers, Virginians, who
removed to Kentucky about the year 1808. Charles was a soldier in the
war of 1812, and died in 1872.  James Withers married Susan, daughter
of Reuben Kelley, of Barren County (now living, aged sixty-eight years),
and to them have been born Melinda (Withers), John S., Thomas V.,
Charles R., James A., Jared C., Ellen S. (Edwards) and America
R.(Grinstead). In youth James A. procured a common English education at
the district schools of the vicinity in which he was reared.  On
December 27, 1871, he espoused in marriage, Eliza A., daughter of
William M. and Harriet (Ralston) True, of Metcalfe County (born June 21,
1848), and from their union there has been no issue. At the commencement
of their united career, with only a small patrimony, Mr. and Mrs.
Withers, with courageous hearts, began to solve the problem of life by
relying for success upon their own exertions, and by industry and
frugality have secured a comfortable competence.  Mr. Withers is a
farmer, owning eighty-five acres of tolerably well improved and
productive land in a good state of cultivation.  He is an active member
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Chruch, and in politics is a stanch
Republican.

Edwards Grinstead Kelley Ralston True Withers
=
Barren-KY Hart-KY VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/metcalfe/withers.ja.txt