John Simeon Mullican, sheriff of Daviess County, was born in Washington County, near Springfield, Kentucky, March 22, 1838, and is a son of John H. and Susan (Hayden) Mullican. His father was born near Emmittsburg, Maryland, and came to Kentucky with his father’s family when he was very young, locating for a time in Washington County and removing to Nelson County in 1840, where he died in March, 1852. He was a most exemplary citizen, devoted to the work of the farmer and to the Catholic Church, having been converted to that faith after reaching his maturity. He deemed it a sacred duty to vote, but did not meddle with politics or aspire to office. He was largely interested in stock trading, but his chief pride was in his justly earned reputation as the best farmer in his county. His father, with whom he came to Kentucky from Maryland, was a native of Ireland, He was a farmer before and after coming to Kentucky, and owned a large tract of land in Washington County, where he built a very handsome residence.

Susan Hayden Mullican (mother) was born in Nelson County in 1795 and was a resident of her native county until her death in 1878.

Stanley Hayden (maternal grandfather) was a native of Virginia, where he married a Miss Hilton, also a Virginian, and subsequently removed to Nelson County, Kentucky. Mr. Hayden was a farmer and an excellent citizen; a member of the Catholic Church and a Democrat of the old school. The Haydens originally came from England.

John S. Mullican was two years old when his parents removed from Washington to Nelson County; was educated in St. Joseph College at Bardstown, completing his studies in 1858; sold dry goods for Quinn & Co. of Bardstown until 1861; went to Corinth and enlisted in Company E, Sixteenth Mississippi Regiment, C. S. A., under Capt. Hatch Murphy, and served in that regiment from June, 1861, till February, 1862, when he was transferred to the First Kentucky Regiment, commanded by Col. Thomas H. Taylor, now chief of police of Louisville, and was in the company commanded by Capt. Pat Thorp. His regiment was disbanded at the siege of Yorktown in March, 1863, and Private Mullican was honorably discharged on account of impaired health. During his career as a soldier he was in a number of fierce engagements, notably, the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Chickahominy and several hot skirmishes near Richmond.

After spending six months in Bardstown, he removed to Daviess County and chose the independent life of a farmer, and his career as such was uneventful and unbroken until 1892, when he was elected sheriff of Daviess County for a term of two years. After completing this term, he was re-elected in 1894 for a term of three years under the new constitution, succeeding himself in January,’ 1895. In this official capacity Mr. Mullican has rendered faithful service, and by his very urbane, courteous and genial manner has added much to his popularity, and has established a name among (h? best citizens as an honorable citizen and capable official. Of course, he is a Democrat, and while he has been twice elected to an important and lucrative office by his party, he has never been a politician, his election having been due to his popularity as a citizen and an honest man, rather than to ‘his party affiliations. He adheres to the religious faith of his parents, and is an influential member of the Catholic Church, and of the Young Men’s Institute in connection with that church.

Mr. Mullican was married April 10, 1866, to Kate Stowers, daughter of A. H. Stowers of Daviess County. She was born in Daviess County in July, 1840, and after attending the common schools completed her education in Nazareth College, in Nelson County. They have eight children: James Stowers Mullican, married to Virgie Newman of Daviess County; John Vernon Mullican, married to Maggie Burnott of Daviess County; Bettie, Ollie and Oda (twins), Richard, Mamie and Addie.

Source: Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. John M. Gresham Company, Chicago, Philadelphia, 1896.