Shelby County, KY - Bios:  MIddelton, John A.
Posted by Sandi Gorin on Wed, 14 Apr 1999
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John A. MIDDELTON 3050, Shelby Co. 

Surname: Middelton, Willis, Caldwell, Barnes, Swearingen, Brown

Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 6th ed., 1887, Shelby Co.

JOHN A. MIDDELTON is a native of Shelby County, Ky., was born December 20, 1829, and is a 
son of James F. and Sarah F. (Willis) Middelton, also natives of Shelby County. James F. 
Middelton was born in 1803, served as sheriff of Shelby County from 1860 to 1866; is now 
deceased, and was a son of Adam Middelton, who came from Virginia and settled in Shelby 
County, Ky., prior to 1800, on a farm five miles east of Shelbyville. John Willis, the 
grandfather of our subject, came from Virginia about 1800, and also settled near Shelbyville. 
John A. Middelton was educated in Shelby County, Ky., and in 1850 engaged in the dry goods 
business at Clay Village, Ky., with Judge James L. Caldwell. In 1859 he removed to Shelbyville, 
and was one year in partnership with James Barnes, who was succeeded by Reuben Swearingen, 
who died in October, 1869, when Mr. Middelton continued in the business alone until 1877, when 
he took in his son, James F., as partner, the style of firm now being John A. Middelton & Son. 
The store building is 140x52 feet, contains three rooms. The firm employs twelve clerks, and 
a large business is done in retail and wholesale, of dry goods, millinery and clothing. Mr. 
Middelton also attends to his duties as president of the Farmers' and Traders' Bank, in which 
he owns a large interest, and is probably the heaviest tax payer in the county. October 20, 1852, 
he married Miss Mary A. Brown, a daughter of Morris A. Brown, deceased. To this union two 
children have been born: James F., and Virginia. The family are members of the Baptist Church. 
John A. Middelton is closely connected with the financial affairs of Shelby County. He has 
managed the treasury of the railroad tax fund successfully for years. He, having been born in 
the county, feels a great interest in its welfare, and is one of the leading spirits in every 
public enterprise of the county. He has large and varied trusts, is director in various 
organizations, successfully conducts a large business, and is a friendly adviser to all who 
call upon him.