Beech Tree News Network

James Nalle (Nall), my 4^th great grandfather, was born in 1740 in Orange County, Virginia to John and Mary Brown Nalle. He married Ms. Humphrey about 1770 in Virginia, then Elizabeth Kelly. James was the father of 13 children. He and his wife, Elizabeth, died in the same week in 1814 of the ‘cold plague’. At this time they were living in Nelson County, Kentucky.

My 3^rd great grandfather, James Nelson Nalle was born on 30 August, 1782 in Culpepper County, Virginia. He married Susanna Kendrick in 1804 in Washington County, Kentucky. They were blessed with a daughter Malinda Nalle born on November 1810 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Malinda, my 2^nd great grandmother married Cornelius Drake also of Muhlenberg County in 1827. They were the parents of 14 children. Their 12^th child, Felix N Drake, was my great grandfather. He married Mary Catherine Nicholls who was his third cousin in 1873. They gave birth to my grandfather, Arthur Pinkney Drake on 13 July 1880 in Muhlenberg County. In 1915, Arthur, my grandfather married Annie Ethyl Hayes in Vanderburg County, Evansville, Indiana. My mother, Mildred Moina Drake was born on 26 August 1921. She married my father, Floyd William Smith in Ohio County in 1940. They were the parents of 10 children, 6 boys and 4 girls. I, Laura Smith Crafton, was child number 8.

I am proud of my family lineage, especially my forefathers who supported and fought in the Revolutionary War. James Nalle (my 4^th great grandfather) was a Private for Virginia in the Revolutionary War. He served in the Culpepper Militia under his brother, Captain Francis Nalle. He also furnished supplies and received credit as recorded in Public Service Claim Book II on August 14, 1783.

When the Nalle family moved to the Kentucky region (before 1787), they owned 500 acres of land from a land warrant issued from the state of Virginia. They bought additional land from James’ brother, Francis, in 1797. Kentucky was growing and more counties were created. At different times the land was part of different counties—Jefferson, Washington, and Nelson.

After marrying Susanna Kendrick, James Nelson Nalle moved to Muhlenberg County where he had received land from his father-in-law’s estate. Decades later, I was born in Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. My family crossed Green River into Ohio County when I was 6 months old. I spent my childhood in Ohio and McLean Counties. My brothers and sister still live in those counties. I have spent my adult years here among the fine people of Butler County.

James Nelson Nalle’s legacy lives on. In 2019 a memorial for James Nalle was set at the Mill Creek Baptist Church in appreciation for purchasing the land for the church in 1810.

By: Laura Smith Crafton, Butler County Chapter NSDAR