The Happy name was originally Hoppe, from Germany. When they came to America, the name was changed to Happy.
James HAPPY,Sr. was born in the 1740's in Germany. He died in 1814 in Fayette County, Kentucky. As I have heard it, the name was Hoppe and when they came to America, it was changed to Happy. James Happy, Sr. fought in the Revolutionary War. He married Mary BURGOYNE around 1865 in New Castle County, Deleware and had the following children:
Elijah, born around 1778 and died around 1833 in Fayette County, Kentucky. He married Nancy ROSELL.
Benjamin B., born ? and married Polly HALSEY on January 11, 1810,
James Jr., born around 1780 and died on September 4, 1817. He married Jane BRAY on October 24, 1808,
John, died around 1814,
Nancy, born ? and married Philip DUNN on January 5, 1811,
Polly, born ? and married Richard BARNETT on December 23, 1812,
Betsy, born ? and married Edward STIVERS on February 9, 1813,
Lydia, born ? and married Boller PEMBERTON on January 4, 1813, and
Enoch, born in the mid 1790's. He married Mariah Jane MCKEE on June 16, 1823.
James HAPPY, Jr., born around 1780 in Kentucky married Jane BRAY on October 24, 1808. Janes was born around 1788 and died after 12870 in Graves County, Kentucky. James HAPPY Jr. died on September 4, 1817 in Fayette County, Kentucky. They had the following children:
William W., born ?. He married Mary Jane GRAVES on February 3, 1830. They lived in Graves County, Kentucky and later moved to Illinois and Arkansas.
Eliza, born on February 23, 1811. She married Isaiah COLLEY.
Nancy Jane, born on June 11, 1814 and died October 11, 1905. She married James Madison CLOYS.
James Benjamin, born on September 17, 1816 in Fayette County, Kentucky. He married Nannie BRAME.
Mary Ann, born ?. She married Samual MASON, Jr.
James Benjamin, born on September 17, 1816 in Fayette County, KY and died on February 25, 1864. He married Nancy BRAME.
Mary Ann, born?. She married Samual MASON, Jr.
James Benjamin HAPPY, was born on September 17, 1816 in Fayette County, KY and died on February 25, 1864 in Mayfield, Graves County, KY. He was killed on his doorstep by the Confederate Army. He wanted to be a member of the Union Army, but couldn't because he was in poor health. He married Nancy Brame. Nancy was born on December 19, 1816 in Christian County, KY. She died on August 28, 1878. They are both buried in what is now called the Greenbriar Subdivision in Mayfield, Graves County, KY.
They had the following children:
George Washington, born in March 1842 in KY. He married Nellie FERGUSON in 1880. She died on June 25, 1881.
James Hester, born on November 4, 1849 and died on March 3, 1921. He married Cora KENDALL on December 1, 1887.
Attilia, born in 1852. She married ____ WILKERSON.
Robert D., born on August 3, 1853 and died on January 21, 1936. He married Mollie E. HOWARD on January 1, 1879. She died on November 12, 1944.
A male childd, born on August 8, 1855 in Graves County, KY.
John T., born in 1856 in Graves County, KY and died September 11, 1934. He married Mattie TURNER. They divorced on October 2, 1882. He was a Postemaster in Mayfield.
Orlando Benjamin, born on October 26, 1859 in Mayfield, Graves County, KY. He married Leona Payne RIDGWAY on December 5, 1880. Orlando died on February 12, 1933.
Orlando Benjamin was saddler and farmer in Mayfield, Graves County, KY. Leona was born on September 16, 1861 in KY and deid July 26, 1935. They are both buried in the Maplewood Cemetery in Mayfield, KY. They had the following children:
Mary Attilia, born on May 21, 1882 in Mayfield, KY. She married Walter ELMORE in 1901. She died on July 4, 1948.
Hester Nanny, born on June 13, 1884 in Mayfield, KY. She married Thurman MCGEE in 1907. She died on November 13, 1973 in MI.
James Benjamin, born on September 4, 1890 and died on November 18, 1892.
Pat Ridgway, born November 1894 and died on October 15, 1919. He married Linda WEATHERFORD.
(more to come)
