Family History

Shown here is a portrait of Isabella Dennison Atchison West. Isabella was the daughter of Hamilton Atchison Jr., a brother to Malinda Atchison Headley. She was born in 1828 in Lexington and named for her paternal grandmother, Isabella Dennison Atchison. This portrait shows her at about 18 years old, meaning it was probably done around the time of her marriage to James Nephew West.

Shown here is a portrait of James Nephew West, husband of Isabella Atchison West. James was born in 1823 in McIntosh County, Georgia and met Isabella when they were both attending school in Athens, Georgia. They married in 1846, and moved to Fayette County, Kentucky. Their home was the estate once known as Mount Brilliant, originally owned by a member of the Russell family and containing the famous Russell Cave. While the property was in the West family, it was known as Bellevue. James was a southern sympathizer during the Civil War and was forced to leave Lexington because of this. He returned once the war was over and died at Bellevue in 1875.

Shown here are the 10 children of James Nephew and Isabella Atchison West. Standing from left to right are: Sarah Rossiter West, Barrington King West, Belle Atchison West, James Nephew West Jr., Mary Evelyn West, Hamilton Atchison West, and George Bartow West. Seated are left to right: Clifford Louise West, Joseph Gignilliat West, and Charles Stewart West. 

This photo was taken in October 1888, after the death of their mother Isabella Atchison West. They are posing in front of Russell Cave, a part of the family property of Bellevue.

Shown here is James Nephew West Jr., the son of James Nephew and Isabella Atchison West. He was born in 1866 in Lexington and as an adult went on to become a doctor. He married Alice Burgoyn of New York.

This portrait shows Alice Burgoyn West, wife of James Nephew West Jr., M.D.