Judge Matthew Clay Gwinn, P. O. Slater. The son of Bartholomew and Susan Gwinn, was born June 3, 1804, in Virginia. His parents came to this county from Tennessee, in 1816, and settled where the town of Frankfort now stands. He sold his farm to the German company who laid off the town. He died, however, before the sale was effected. He was the first white man to settle so high up the river. Judge M. C. Gwinn lived with his father until his death, and then with his mother until his twenty-ninth year. He was married in 1833, to Miss Mary Thrailkill, daughter of James and Susan Thrailkill, who was a native of North Carolina, and came to this county from Tennessee, in 1817. Judge Gwinn entered 300 acres of government land. He was elected judge of the county court in 1865, and served two terms. His father was one of the first county judges of Saline county, and his wife’s father one of the first sheriffs. Judge Gwinn died March 16, 1881, and Mrs. Gwinn still lives on the home place. Judge Gwinn leaves nine surviving children: Polly A., Thomas B., Elijah, Andrew J., Virginia ( Mrs. Abner Wilhite), Abner, William A. Richard P., and Martha L. (now Mrs. Wm. Baker.)
