History of Todd County, Kentucky, ed. J. H. Battle, 1884, F. A. Battey
Publishing Co., 1884, pp. 318-19.            [Trenton Precinct]

THE CHESNUT FAMILY.  Among the prominent families who early immigrated to
Todd County in the pioneer days, may justly be mentioned the one appearing
at the head of this brief sketch.  Near the beginning of the present
century the widow Chesnut removed from North Carolina to Todd County, Ky.,
and settled on the Elk Fork of the Red River.  With her came her sons,
Samuel, James, John and Alexander.  They were zealous members of the old
Seceder Church.  Of these sons, Samuel, born in North Carolina, 1793, was
a valiant soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1866.  His son, William
A. Chesnut, was born October 4, 1819, in Princeton, Ky.; removed to Todd
County with his parents in 1828, where he married Margaret M., daughter of
David N. and Lydia (McElwain) Russell, of this county, where he died
January 30, 1879.  Mrs. Margaret M. Chestnut [sic] was born September 24,
1822, and is still living.  Their children are: Lydia A. (deceased), Samuel
D., James W. and Martha J. (Burge).  Samuel David Chesnut was born August
2, 1857, at the place of his present residence, in Todd County, Ky., where
he has all his life retained his residence.  He was favored with a fine
classical education, and is still an intelligent student of standard works,
and the current literature of the day.  He is actively engaged in farming
and stock-raising, superintending the family homestead of 540 acres of
valuable land, which he successfully cultivates.  He is a member of the
Masonic Fraternity, and also of Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  James W.
Chesnut, Trenton, is a native of Todd County, where he was born August 20,
1862, and where he has all his life resided.  He is the son of William A.
and Margaret (Russell) Chesnut.  He early obtained a good education, and
in the midst of active duties finds time to devote to reading.  In 1881,
he commenced merchandising in Trenton (firm style Chesnut & Russell) at
which he has been fairly successful.  He is extensively engaged in the
implement trade, and the firm handle a fair proportion of the produce
shipped from Trenton.  In religion he is a Cumberland Presbyterian, and
in politics a Democrat.

Chesnut Chestnut McElwain Burge Russell
=
Princeton-Caldwell-KY NC

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/todd/chesnut.txt