John Wallace Wiser was born on October 13, 1899 in Casey Co. KY. He was one of three children born to James Mattison Wiser and Nancy F. Peyton Wiser. Nancy died in 1910, leaving James to marry Perry Amanda Cummins with whom he fathered five more children.
Grace Lee Russell was born on November 28, 1902 in Casey Co. KY. Her parents were Clay Russell and Ann Eliza Richards. Grace had two brothers and one sister. She grew up in the Big South Fork area of Casey Co. KY; specifically near Ellisburg.
I can find no actual marriage document, but Grace and John must have been married just before the 1920 census. She is listed there as married and he is Head of Household. Their first son was born in 1922, in Casey Co. KY. The other twelve children were born between Casey and Marion counties in KY. In all, John and Gracie had ten boys and three girls. The family business was farming, so more hands make the work evenly divided. Further, because there were fourteen in the family work was necessary for survival.
Parents of John Wallace Wiser
James Mattison Wiser and Nancy F. Peyton were first cousins by way of his mother (Sophronia Peyton) and her father (Christopher Columbus Peyton). James’s mother and Nancy’s father were brother and sister, with their parents being Bennett Peyton and Jane McGlothlin (McLaughlin).
Parents of Grace Lee Russell
Clay Russell and Ann Eliza Richards were married on 29 August, 1895 in Casey Co. KY. Ann Eliza is the great-great-granddaughter of Valentine Peyton (1749-1831), whose family helped establish the Lincoln, Garrard, Casey County areas in Kentucky. He obtained these land grants through service in the American Revolution.
This is a broad overview of the connection between the Wiser, Russell, and Peyton families in Kentucky. It is by no means exhaustive. I have much more to share in future posts!
Tracey
Wiser- Russell- Peyton Family Connections 