Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

Biography

James M. Sebastian

JAMES M. SEBASTIAN was born in Perry County, Ky., (in that soon after was included in Breathitt County), on the 24^th of November, 1838. His father Wesley Sebastian, was born in Claiborne County, Tenn., immigrated to Kentucky with his father when a small boy, and settled in Perry County, Ky., where he married Millie Burchfield in 1837.

In 1839 he immigrated to Illinois and settled in Fayette County, where he died in 1847. His wife, who survived him, was the daughter of Adam and Nancy Burchfield, natives of Wilkes County, N.C., who moved to what is now called Letcher County, Ky., and subsequently settled in Breathitt County.

Wesley Sebastian was the father of 4 children: James M., Matilda, John F. and Jacob. Mrs. Millie Sebastian married the second time to Joseph Roberts, and immigrated to Parker County, Texas, where she still resides with her husband. James M. Sebastian was raised on a farm in Illinois until twelve years of age, when he returned with his mother and family to Kentucky, and was engaged in farming in Owsley County about 4 years.

He then left home to fight the battle of life on his own hook at the age of 16, went to Jessamine County, Ky., and worked on a farm for about eight months. Being dissatisfied with mixing, laboring and competing with slave labor, he left Kentucky and went to Illinois where he worked on the farm in the summer and attended school in the winter. He returned to Kentucky in 1858, where he attended and taught school until 1861.

Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, he was one of the first men in Owsley County to volunteer in the Federal Army. He enlisted as a private in Company A, Seventh Kentucky Infantry Volunteers, in the Army of the United States. In January, 1863, he was promoted to Sergeant Major of his regiment. He was wounded and lost his right leg above the knee at the battle of Champion Hill, Miss. He participated in the battle of Wild Cat, Ky., Oct., 1861; also in the battle of Richmond, Ky., on the 27^th of August, 1862; also the battle of Perryville, Ky., on the 8^th of Oct. 1862, where he received a flesh wound in the right leg. He returned to his regiment before his wound had fully healed, and took a hand in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd of January, 1863; also in the battle of Champion Hills, May 16, where he lost his leg.  He was discharged from the service at St. Louis, August 21, 1863 after having been in the service 2 years.

He then returned to Kentucky, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. In the same year he was appointed master commissioner of the Owsley circuit court; in 1866 was appointed county attorney, and served out an unexpired term. He married Deborah A. Needham, of Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky. To their union have been born 8 children, five of whom are living: James G., Elizabeth, Laura, John, and Daisy. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Sebastian was selected by the Republicans and ran as candidate for Commonwealth’s attorney in the 15^th Judicial District of Ky in 1868, receiving a complimentary vote of the Republican party, who were in a hopeless minority, and was defeated by the Hon. Robert Riddell. He was nominated at London, Ky., in Sep. 1884, for Congress in the 8^th Congressional District, and canvassed the district with the Hon. James B. McCreary. He was defeated for Congress by McCreary at the Nov election, 1884. He is a Republican in politics, a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the F. & A. M. fraternity.