Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 1886. Monroe County. JACOB L. ABSHIRE, a native of Virginia, and now a resident and one of the respected citizens of Tompkinsville, Monroe Co., Ky., was born January 10, 1837. His father, Randolph Abshire, was also a Virginia and married Sarah Cook about the year 1822. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812; was by trade a millwright and died in the year 1846. Jacob L. Abshire is the youngest of a family of three daughters and three sons. His early education was limited to the common schools and his schooling amounted to no more than a year altogether, but by applying himself diligently to his studies he laid the foundation of a fair business education. At the age of fourteen years he was thrown upon his own resources, and worked on a farm by the month for two years; then left Botetourt County, went to Marion, in Smith County, Va., and began to learn the trade of a carpenter, which he has followed more or less up to the present time. In 1858 he came to Kentucky, and settled in Monroe County, where he engaged in the tanning business in partnership with his brother-in-law. This he followed until October 3, 1861, when he joined the Federal Army; enlisted in Company K, of the Fifth Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, in which he held the rank of orderly sergeant. He was with his command through many engagements, most notably those of Sweden's Cove and Gallatin, Tenn., and Resaca, Dalton, Dallas, Kenesaw, and Atlanta, and was with Gen. Sherman during the "march to the sea." He was discharged May 3, 1865, after which he came home and spent two years in agricultural pursuits, then again resumed his trade; since 1884 he has been operating a saw-mill at Tompkinsville. He married, January 16, 1860, Mary A., daughter of Madison L. and Martha (Cloyd) Williams, both of whom are Kentuckians by birth. Mr. Abshire and wife are members of the Christian Church. They are the parents of one son, Thomas M., and four daughters: Eva C., Nancy E., Sarah J. and Martha F. Mr. Abshire is a Republican; is not a prohibitionist but given his influence to the temperance cause. Abshire Cloyd Cook Sherman Williams = Atlanta-GA Botetourt-VA Dallas-TX Gallatin-TN Marion-Smith-VA http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/monroe/abshire.jl.txt