Bozarth Family Papers

The Bozarth Family Papers, circa 1781-1910, focus on Jonathon (1752-1830), Eli (1800-187-), J. P. (Joseph Preston) (1847-1929), and J. W. Bozarth (1815-188-). The family genealogy can be traced partially through the land grants, deeds to property, government documents, personal correspondence, wills, financial documents, and newspaper articles. The Bozarths originally settled in Grayson County, Kentucky, and moved to La Grange, Oldham County, Kentucky. A letter to J. P. Bozarth in 1910, from his cousin, W. J. Peddicord contains the family genealogy in a limited form.

The Bozarth Family Papers span approximately 129 years, covering three generations of the Bozarth family. They constitute an artificial collection, Record Group 157, donated in 1978 by Francis Preston Oglesby, a descendant.

The collection consists of land grants, legal documents, financial documents, letters, newspapers, military and government documents and a map. An undated photograph of a Civil War era soldier may be Joseph Preston Bozarth, the only member of the Bozarth family that appears to be the right age.

The earliest document, a Land Office Treasury Warrant, dates from 1781, and a Land Grant signed by Governor Patrick Henry is dated 1786. Additional deeds to property in Grayson and Oldhan County, Kentucky, indicate disposition of the property into the 20th century, when it passed down through the Bozarth family to the Oglesby family of La Grange, Kentucky.

Records indicate Jonathon Bozarth served as a Private in the 8th Regiment of Pennsylvania Regulars from 1776-1779. Members of this farm family served in the War of 1812 and in the Civil War. They also served in public capacity as Postmaster of Grayson County, Sheriff of Grayson County, Grayson County Judge, State Senator of the 12th District, Kentucky, and became hotel owners and large property owners in Grayson and Oldham Counties, Kentucky.

The material is arranged chronologically in individual folders, starting with the earliest member of the Bozarth family.