Son of Thomas J Obenchain & Elizabeth Sweetland.

Served in the Civil War.
In 1883, was named President of Ogden College in Bowling Green, KY.

Thomas & Eliza had 4 children:

1) Margery Obenchain: Val Graham Winston (# 86115399) married Margery Obenchain (# 81848077). Margery died in 1923 and Val remarried in 1924.

2) William Alexander Obenchain, Jr

3) Thomas Hall Obenchain, married Scotta Goodwin

4) Cecelia Obenchain

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The Courier Journal (Louisville KY)
Aug 18 1916
Maj. W. Obenchain is Dead at Bowling Green
Well-known Educator will be buried in his Confederate Uniform
Bowling Green, Ky Aug 17--Maj. William Obenchain, Sr., 75 years old, a Confederate soldier, a member of Gen. Robert E. Lee's staff and a noted educator, died at 3 o'clock this morning of stomach trouble after an illness of several months. he was born in Buchanan, Va. In 1885 he married Miss Lida Calvert, who has written a number of books, some of the most noted being "Aunt Jane of Kentucky," "The Land of Long Ago" and "Coverlets." Besides the widow he is survived by two sons, William Alexander Obenchain, Jr., of the Good Roads Commission, Frankfort, and Thomas Obenchain, of Dallas, Tex; two daughters, Mrs. Val Graham Winston, Dallas, and Miss Cecil Obenchain, this city: a brother, Capt. Francis G. Obenchain, of Chicago, Ill, and three sisters, Mrs. Z.T. Atkins of Marion, Va: Miss Cecil Obenchain, of Wytheville, Va., and Mrs. Margaret Dickinson, of Castlewood, Va.

Major Obenchain went to Dallas, Tex., in 1873, where he was engaged in the real estate business for five years. He came here in 1878 and accepted the chair of mathematics at Ogden College, where he taught until a few months ago. From 1883 to 1906 he was president of this institution. he was a first honor graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and had been an officer in the engineer corps of the Confederate army, professor of mathematics and engineering in the Pittsboror, N.C. Military Academy, professor of mathematics and commandant of cadets in the Western Military Academy at New Castle, Ky., and professor of French and German and commandant of cadets in the University of Nashville.

He was a charter member of the XV Club, which was organized thirty-five years ago, and its secretary since its organization. He was a member of Christ Episcopal church and was treasurer, lay reader and senior warden of this church. The body will lie in state at this church tomorrow afternoon from 2 to 3:30 o'clock, at which time the funeral will be conducted by the Rev. E.W. Halleck. the interment will be in Fairview cemetery. He will be buried in his Confederate uniform.

- contributed by member 47170788

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An engineer on the staff of Robert E. Lee. He was a great mathematician, a rare scholar, and a chivalric gentleman. He was for a quarter of a century the president of Ogden College. Through his tutelage and lofty character, he made a profound impression upon the students and the community.

Contributor: Bham85 (48240040)