History of Kentucky, five volumes, edited by Judge Charles Kerr,
American Historical Society, New York & Chicago, 1922, Vol. V, p. 7,
Owsley County

     WILLIAM LAYETTE OWSLEY, M. D.  The profession of medicine has been
notably prominent in the wonderful scientific discoveries of the past
and present centuries.  Through the bequests of men of large means
trained medical men are concentrating their efforts in laboratories
equipped with every possible adjunct for research and investigation, to
the solving of the problems which so definitely concern humanity, its
beginning, existence and end.  Not every physician is granted these
opportunities, however enthused he may be with professional zeal and
ardor, but the discoveries which come to him and the achievements which
are his in his consideration of daily practice are, perhaps quite as
creditable, and certainly they are frequent enough to demonstrate great
ability.  Since 1901 Dr. William Layette Owsley has been numbered among
the efficient physicians and surgeons of Cumberland County, and during
that period has proved his skill as a professional man and his worth as
a citizen of Burkesville, where he has always made his home.
     Doctor Owsley belongs to one of the oldest families of Burkesville,
and was born at this place July 22, 1879, a son of William Francis and
Sallie A. (Alexander) Owsley.  His paternal great-great-grandfather,
William Owsley was a pioneer from Virginia to Burkesville in he early
history of this community, and here was born the great-grandfather of
Doctor Owsley, Dr. Joel Owsley, who was an early physician and surgeon
and followed his profession here throughout his career.  He was likewise
an early believer in the Christian or Campbellite faith, and preached
the doctrines of that church even before the arrival of Alexander
Campbell.  Dr. Joel Owsley married Mary Ann Lewis, who was born and died
at Burkesville.
     William Francis Owsley, the elder, the grandfather of Dr. William
Layette Owsley, was born in 1812 at Burkesville, and was reared to
mercantile pursuits, in which he was engaged until reaching his
thirty-fifth year.  At that time in partnership with Layette W.
Alexander, the maternal grandfather of Doctor Owsley, he established a
branch house of the Louisville Bank, which was conducted until into the
‘70's.  When he severed his connection with this institution Mr. Owsley
turned his attention to the brokerage business, and from that time
forward concerned himself with the handling of mortgages, farms, etc. 
He married Mary Agnes Bledsoe, who was born in 1834 at Burkesville, and
died in 1881.  He survived her for many years and passed away while on a
trip to Louisville, in June, 1908.
     William Francis Owsley, the younger, father of Dr. William F.
Owsley, was born August 2, 1852, at Burkesville, and as a young man
elected to make farming his life work.  That he made a wise choice has
been demonstrated in his subsequent career, for he has been a leading
and successful agriculturist, and at the present time is the owner of a
valuable property in Cumberland County.  In addition to his general
farming activities he was a raiser and handler of horses, having an
extensive stock farm, and his horses, particularly the Red Squirrel
breed, are known all over the United States.  While somewhat retired
from active pursuits, having reached the psalmist's three -score-and-ten
years, he supervises his large enterprises and take  (Sic) a keen
interest in business affairs, as well as in matters which affect the
community life. He is a democrat in politics, but has never been an
aspirant for public honors.  Reared in the faith of the Christian
Church, he has always been a liberal supporter of its movements.  Mr.
Owsley married Miss Sallie A. Alexander, also a member of an old and
honored family of Burkesville, who was born here in 1852, and died in
March 1904.  They became the parents of the following children: Susie
King, who died in 1916, aged thirty-six years, at Burkesville, the wife
of Dr. John G. Talbot, a physician and surgeon of Burkesville, a sketch
of whose career appears elsewhere in this volume; Dr. William Layette of
this review; Mary Agnes, the wife of Dr. R. C. Richardson, a dental
practitioner of Leitchfield, Kentucky; Grant A., a resident of
Burkesville, who during the World war was stationed at Camp Taylor,
subsequently was sent to other training camps, commissioned a first
lieutenant, and was ready for overseas duty when the armistice was
signed; and Helen, the wife of S. M. Young, vice president of the Bank
of Cumberland, Burkesville.
     William Fayette Owsley attended the public schools and Alexander
College, Burkesville, following which he entered Center College
Danville.  He lacked only three months of graduation when ill health
forced him to leave that institution, and upon his recovery entered the
Hospital College of Medicine at Louisville, where he spent three years. 
Following this he pursued a course in the medical department of the
University of Kentucky at Louisville, from which he was graduated in
1901 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.  In that same year he
graduated from the Louisville School of Pharmacy with the degree of
Graduate Pharmacist.  In 1902 he took two post-graduate courses at the
University of Kentucky, one in the spring and one in the fall,
specializing in diseases of women and diseases of children.
     Doctor Owsley began his practice at Burkesville in 1901, and since
that year has built up a splendid practice.  A man of unusual ability,
he has always taken a progressive stand upon matters pertaining to his
profession.  Always devoted to his work, he is constantly endeavoring to
add to his store of knowledge and widen his field of action.  Having
devoted so many years to his calling he has been liberally rewarded by
the bestowal of confidence and the enjoyment of praise honestly won. 
Doctor Owsley is the owner of his modern residence and offices on
Glasgow Street, one of the most desirable and comfortable homes in the
city, an old Colonial brick structure.  He is likewise the owner of a
farm of 250 acres, part of which extends into the city limits, and
carries on general farming and stock raising hereon.
     In politics a democrat, Doctor Owsley is a professional man rather
than a politician, but has accepted the responsibilities of public
office on occasion.  In 1906 he was appointed a member of the Board of
Town Trustees to fill out an unexpired term, and in the following year
was elected to that post for a full term of four years.  At the present
time he is United
States examining surgeon for Cumberland County, and formerly for six
years was health office r of the county.   He belongs to the Cumberland
County Medical Society, the Kentucky State Medical Society and the
American Medical Association, and is a deacon of the Christian Church. 
During the World war he was very active in local matters, being
examining surgeon for the Cumberland County Draft Board, food
administrator of Cumberland County and chairman of the civilian relief
committee, in addition to helping every drive be put "over the top." 
With Mrs. Owsley he organized every local chapter of the American Red
Cross in the county.
     On October 25, 1905, Doctor Owsley married at Lexington, Kentucky,
Miss Annie Pearl Owings, a daughter of W. A. and Nannie (Rue) Owings,
residents of Lexington, where Mr. Owings is a well known trotting horse
owner, breeder and developer, Mrs. Owsley was graduated from the public
schools of Danville, Kentucky, at the age of thirteen years, and fours
years later graduated from Caldwell College, now the Woman's College of
Danville, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  She took a postgraduate
course at the Kentucky State University, and finally pursued a course at
the Western College for Women.  She is a woman of superior intellect,
graces and accomplishments, and is a leader in the club and social life
at Burkesville.  To Dr. and Mrs. Owsley there has come one son, William
Fayette, Jr. born August 16, 1906 who is now a student in the
Burkesville High School.

Alexander Bledsoe Lewis Owings Owsley Richardson Rue Talbot Young
=
Cumberland-KY Fayette-KY VA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/owsley/owsley.wl.txt