H. PRESTON SIGHTS, M.D.

A Kentucky physician and surgeon for over a quarter of a century Doctor Preston SIGHTS represents one of the very old families of the state. He is a descendant of Jacob SIGHTS, who came from Europe to the American colonies and was on the American side through the Revolutionary War.

Jacob SIGHTS married a Miss _____ PRESTON, of Pennsylvania. After the war he came West and settled in Henderson County, Kentucky, and spent the rest of his life as a planter at Cairo.

The grandfather of Doctor SIGHTS was Preston SIGHTS, a native of Henderson County, who spent his life in this section as a planter and slave owner. He died at Cairo at the age of ninety-two. Preston SIGHTS was a son of David SIGHTS, who also spent his life in Henderson County, where three or four generations of the family have been identified with agricultural affairs.

James J. SIGHTS, father of Doctor SIGHTS, was born near Cairo in Henderson County in 1835, and spent all his life in that community as a farmer. He died at Robards, Kentucky in 1914. He was a democrat, an active member and elder of the Christian Church and deeply interested in Masonry. James J. SIGHTS married Miss Annie Russell SANDERFER, who was born in 1836 and reared in Henderson County, and at the age of eighty-four makes her home with her son, Doctor SIGHTS. She became the mother of five children: John E., a contractor and lumber dealer who died at Robards at the age of fifty-three; H. Preston; James, a farmer who died in Niagara, Kentucky at the age of thirty-two; Eugene, an oil operator living at Fowlerton, Texas; and Thomas, farmer who died at Niagara at the age of twenty-six.

Doctor SIGHTS grew up in Henderson County, acquired a rural school education, and graduated with the A. B. degree in 1882 from the Corydon Collegiate Institute at Corydon, Kentucky. Following that, he had two years of experience as clerk in a drug store at Topeka, Kansas, and one year with W. S. JOHNSON at a druggist in Henderson. For six years he was in the drug business for himself at Robards and Corydon, Kentucky. In the meantime, in 1889, he registered as a pharmacist on the State Board of Pharmacy, and subsequently entered the University of Louisville as a medical student, receiving his MD degree in 1894. Until 1896, he practiced at Henderson, and then continued his advanced studies at the New York Polyclinic until 1898, in which he was appointed first assistant superintendent to the Western State Hospital at Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He was at that post of duty four years, and in 1901 removed to Paducah to engage in private practice. In 1910 Doctor SIGHTS was appointed superintendent of the Western State Hospital, and held that office from 01 Jul 1910 until 01 Jul 1916. Since then he has been engaged in a general practice at Paducah, with offices in the City National Bank Building.

Doctor SIGHTS served six years as health officer of Paducah, is a former president of the McCracken County Medical Society, a member of the State Medical Society, a member of the American Medical Society, and a fellow of the American Medico Psychological Society. During the World War he was chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of District 2, comprising five counties, and also chairman of the Home Service of the Red Cross. He was a participant in other features of the war program. Doctor SIGHTS is now acting assistant surgeon of the United States Public Health Department.

In November, 1886, at Cairo, Kentucky, Doctor SIGHTS married Miss Virginia MILES, daughter of Rev. A. A. and Mary (Phillips) MILES. Her father was a Baptist minister and her mother is still living in Henderson. Doctor and Mrs. SIGHTS have two children: Major Warren P. SIGHTS and Ethel Virginia.

H. PRESTON SIGHTS REFERENCES

1850 Census of Henderson County

David Sights age 60, Page 83, House No. 155; Margaret age 59; Isabella age 20

Preston G. Sights age 38, Page 84, House No. 179; Elizabeth age 32; John D. age 13; James age 11; Leonard age 9; Archiles (m) age 7; Lucy C. age 5; George age 3; Uriah E. (f) age 1

Alfred Sights age 27, Page 84, House No. 171; Mary age 27; Arminda (f) age 5; Margaret age 4; Sarah E. age 1

George Sights age 22, Page 79, House No. 118; Nancy age 21; Margaret age 1; Gilbert Pew age 35; Matthrew Rudy age 58

Adam Sights age 67 is listed with John T. Watson age 68 and family, Page 151, House No. 746

1860 Census of Henderson County

Preston Sights age 48, Page 41, House No. 27; Elizabeth age 42; John F. age 22; L. B. (m) age 19; A. B. (m) age 17; L. C. (f) age 15; J. M. (m) age 13; U. E. (m) age 11; M. L. (f) age 9; Phebe age 7; H. A. (m) age 5; Emma age 1

David Sights age 70, Page 51, House No. 116; Mary Melton age 33; John Melton age 19; Elizabeth Melton age 17; Franklin Melton age 15

George Sights age 32, Pg 72, House. No. 306; Nancy age 40; Josaphene age 6; James age 3; Duncan age 1

James J. Sights age 21, Page 113, House No. 100; Ann R. age 23

1870 Census of Henderson County

Preston Sights age 58, Page 21, House No. 138; Elizabeth age 52; George age 23; Uriah (m) age 20; Mary S. age 18; Virginia age 16; Henry A. age 15; Henry age 14; Emma 11; George Lewis age 16.

George A. Sights age 42, Page 23, House No. 147; Nancy J. age 41; Josephene age 15; James age 12; John D. age 9; Irene age 6; Nara age 5; Virginia age 3; Genella age 1; Denecia age 10; Eldrige Walker age 24

L. B. Sights age 29, Page 161, House No. 166; Sarah E. age 18

J. J. Sights age 32, Page 377, House 62; Ann R. age 33; John E. age 9; Henry P. age 6; Augustina Green (B) age 9

MARRIAGES IN HENDERSON COUNTY, 1806 - 1858

George A. Sights - Nancy McClarney, 17 Sep 1849, Book 001 Page 108
Isaac Sights - Elizabeth Parks, 10 Aug 1815, Book 001, Page 014
Preston G. Sights - Elizabeth J. Brown, 21 Feb 1837, Book 001, Page 062
Catherine Sights - Bailey Gibson, 22 Feb 1813, Book 001, Page 005
Mary Sights - Charles W. Brown, 16 Apr 1812, Book 001, Page 007
Mary Sights - Daniel Melton, 26 Mar 1835, Book 001 Page 055
Matilda Ann Sights - Obadiah Brown, 09 Jan 1834, Book 001, Page 054

MARRIAGES IN HENDERSON COUNTY, 1858 - 1900

A. B. Sights - L. J. Haynes, 17 Aug 1887, Book 020, Page 401
Achilles B. Sights - Louisa F. Matthews, 15 Jan 1874, Book 013, Page 264
C. R. Sights - Mary Craig, 21 Jun 1871, Book 011, Page 150
George A. Sights - Mary Craig, 21 Jun 1871, Book 011, Page 150
George M. Sights - Ann E. Whitledge, 13 Apr 1876, Book 014, Page 453
H. A. Sights - Virginia L. Buchanon, 15 Nov 1877, Book 015, Page 132
H. P. Sights - Jennie Niles, 03 Nov 1886, Book 020, Page 115
J. M. Sights - Mary Susan Shemsell, 07 Jan 1892, Book 023, Page 359
James A. Sights - Mary E. Liles, 22 Nov 1877, Book 015, Page 133
James J. Sights - Ann R. Sandefur, 08 Dec 1859, Book 004, Page 295
John D. Sights - Elizabeth Hoggard, 01 Nov 1876, Book 014, Page 601
John D. Sights - Laura Liles, 10 Sep 1884, Book 018, Page 507
John David Sights - Lucy Ann McClarney, 26 Nov 1861, Book 005, Page 271
John E. Sights - Martha J. Conaway, 01 Apr 1883, Book 018, Page 043
L(eonard) B. Sights - Sarah E. Spencer, 22 Jun 1870, Book 010, Page 190
Matthew Sights - Sarah A. Williams, 28 Dec 1871, Book 011, Page 356
Thomas Leonard Sights - Mattie Lee Church, 10 Oct 1900, Book 029, Page 260
Uriah Sights - Martha V. Pruitt, 30 Nov 1871, Book 011, Page 308
Virginius Sights - Emma Lyles, 07 Feb 1889, Book 021, Page 381
Addie J. Sights - R. H. Kelly, 28 Dec 1882, Book 017, Page 603
Bertha Sights - Thomas Lee Denton, 14 Dec 1882, Book 017, Page 603
Carrie Sights - Charles E. Sugg, 06 Apr 1898, Book 028, Page 262
Denicia Sights - James M. Craig, 04 Jun 1876, Book 014, Page 479
Ella Sights - John Thomas Pruitt, 22 OCt 1891, Book 023, Page 219
Emma Sights - Wiliam T. Jennings, 30 Sept 1880, Book 016, Page 246
Hattie Sights - T. L. Denton, 29 Nov 1893, Book 024, Page 543
Irene Sights - Joseph Eagle, 26 Sep 1881, Book 017, Page 211
Jennie Sights - William Knsler, 29 Oct 1879, Book 016, Page 117
Jennie Sights - T. L. Springfield, 11 Dec 1890, Book 022, Page 531
Josephine A. Sights - George W. Ham, 28 Jul 1871, Book 011, Page 178
Mary F. Sights - L. B. Denton, 12 Dec 1895, Book 026, Page 081
Mary L. Sights - Chirstopher Denton, 15 Dec 1872, Book 012, Page 082
Ninnia Sights - Daniel Klaffer, 20 Nov 1890, Book 022, Page 495