YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 "I^Lve tJafpBmks^ r /di- the founding if «- Cottegt iTutM^^otoTtf^ :jv;ssS'^-^g;^KJ.'?^'r^'vJ-~^':^i'3w^'*-^A'y-.^-va{|^^ HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY, ILLINOIS WITH LIFE SKETCHES AND PORTRAITS. By o. j. page. Editor "Journal-Republican," Member Forty-First General Assembly. IN TWO PARTS. PART ONE— HISTORICAL. deification* To a devoted and sacrificing wife, to a host of friends and to the stalwart citi:{enship of Massac County, we dedicate this work. AUTHOR. ^ilxnoi&* By thy river gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois, O'er the prairie verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois, Comes an echo o'er the breeze. Rustling through the leafy trees; And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois, And its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois. From a wilderness of prairie, Illinois, Illinois, Straight thy wav and never varies, Illinois, Illinois, ' Till upon ihe inland sea Stands thy great commercial tree. Turning all the world to thee, Illinois, Illinois, Turning all the world to thee, Illinois, Illinois. When you heard your country calling, Illinois, Illinois, When the shot and shell were falling, Illinois, Illinois, When the Southern host withdrew. Pitting Gray against the Blue, There were none more brave than you, Illinois, Illinois. There were none more brave thanyou, Illinois, Illinois, Not without thy wondrous story, Illinois, Illinois, Can be writ the Nation's glory, Illinois, Illinois, On the record of the years Abr'am Lincoln's name appears, Grant and Logan and our tears, Illinois, Illinois, Grant and Logan and our tears, Illinois, Illinois. ERRATA. EEAD— (a) Louis XlVth p. 13 instead of "Louis XlXth." (b) 1827-1831 p. 43, instead of "1872-1883." (c) John H. Mulkey instead of "John C. Mullfey," p. 74. (d) July, 1849, p. 78, instead of ''1844 or 1845," and King in stead of "Davison." (c) John H. JSTorris instead of "Morris," p. 86. (f) Uncle instead of ''father," p. 91, line 32. (g) Dr. S. J. Ehoads instead of "O. J. Page," author, p. 90. (h) James E. Gowan, M. D., came to the county 1864, grad uated at the Eush Medical^ College, and entered upon a long and successful practice. ' He died in 1899. (i) Mesdames Malinda Lafont instead of "Pafont," p. 86, near bottom page. 'j) John L. Turnbo for "John H. Turnbo," p. 236, heading. (k) Bon. George W. Pillow instead of "George H. Pillow," p. 310, heading. INDEX. PART I-History. Preliminary Events 7 Fort Massac and Concurrent Events.. 10 Fort Massac 29 Conspiracies about Fort Massac 32 Physical Geography 34 Peoples 40 Political History 42 County Organization 52 jReminiscences 64 Massac County Bar 71 Regulators and Flat Heads 78 Mobs 79 Newspapers 80 Secret Orders 83 Medicine 90 Items ot Interest 95 Religious History 100 Metropolis City 128 Pope County History 138 PART II.='=5ketches and Reminiscences. METROPOLIS PRKCINCT 175 GOLCONDA CITIZENS 21)4 BROOKLYN PRECINCT 284 Brooklyn Circuit 328 Cumberland Presbyterianism in Massac County 329 GEORGE'S CREEK 339 New Columbia 339 Samoth 340 JOHNSON COUNTY 3S2 JACKSON PRECINCT... 365 FRAGMENTS 383 Adams, Frank, Mayor 278 Adkins, Dr. A. E 379 Atwell, Saniuel, Captain 177 Barham, R. C 247 Bonifleld, W. H 323 Brinnen, C. W 349 Brown, Colonel W. R 202 Chapman, Hon. P. T 353 Choat, Green B 232 Cook, Elder A. R 235 Copeland, Major L. W 257 Cowan, D. J 360 Cummins, Lewis S02 Cummins, Dr. J. T 305 Deane, Daniel 375 Delavan, Judge B. J 202 Durfee Charles 277 Elliott, James Evers, John W... Fisher, Dr. H. C, Fry, J. W 377 183 224 301 Gilbert, John 265 Gilliam, W. H 359 Giltner, C. A 371 Gore, Thomas M 363 Gowan, Dr. J. B. . Green, Hon. W. H.. Hankins, M. A., 197 278 SC3 Marker, Judge O. A 313 Helm, Hon. D. W Helm, Dr. J. A Milliard, Captain B. W Hodge, Professor J. H Jobe, Han. James E Jones, Hon. B. O Kerr, Hon. S. B Kerr, Tony R King, Hon. J. W Kraper, W. H 181211 220271 381 382242 268 274 212 Lafont, Eugene 231 Lay, Joseph 272 Leeper, R. T 330 Leeper, R. Byrd 333 Lytton, R. B 299 Martin, William 309 Martin, G. E 280 McBride, Charles D 347 McBride, John 348 McCartney, Hon. R. W 175 McCartney, Captain J. F 262 McCartney Prolessor M. N 356 McCartney, Professor "W. P 227 McKee, R. G. B 194 Moore, W. H 265 Morris, Rev. W. T 280 Morris Colfax 186 Morgan, Thomas S 343 Morgan, Ike L 364 Moseley, Thomas J 372 Mozley, Dr. C. A 292 Muse, Rev. Eben 3(JB Norris, Dr. J. H 245 Nutty, A. P 350 Orr, Dr. J .A 207 otey, C. E .... 239 Owen, Wesley ' 236 Paris, D. L 365 Pell, MitcheU 291 Peter, Col. R.A 222 Peter, Capt. J. A 223 Pillow, Geo. W 310 Pollard, Dr. R. H 340 Poor, S. D 198 Prestly, Prof. William M 193 Pryor, Elder D. R 368 Ragsdale, Dr. A. C 216 Rankin, Col. Benj ?61 Reynolds, J. M 139 Rhoads, Dr. Solomon J 2>1 Roby, Tillman 248 Robarts, Judge J. P 313 Rose, Hon. James A 264 Rush, George 300 Samson, Walter 320 Sawyer, Judge George 190 Scott, Rev. J. -H Ill Scofield, Rev. Edward 109 Sexton, E. O f34 Sedberry, H. L 277 Shoemaker, . S. S 227 Skaggs, Hon. C. P 376 Spence, Elder W. A 350 Stone, D. R '. 296 Swan, Rev. B. C 257 Teitloff, Charles W 324 Thompson, Judge D. G 266 Tindall, W. H 324 Trovillion, Dr. C. E 219 Trovillion, Dr. M. H 380 Turnbo, J. L 236 Vickers, Judge A. K 355 Walker, Wayne A 267 Walbright, Dr. G. W 262 Webb, Dr. Chenault ."ffS Whitley, Hon. M. S 377 Whiteside, Judge W. A 273 Willis, Hon. J. C 239 Wolfe, Elder G. Lay 295 Woods, Capt. Elisha Thomas 366 Wright, Williara 211 Wymore, Dr. J. W 344 Young, Hon. G. W. Young, Hon. J. D.. 317 287 PREFACE. This book is published to preserve interesting aud im portant historical data of our county; to record events in the lives of worthy citizens, dead and living; though fraught with many discouragements and onerous toil, our task is done. You view the result of our labors, and pass judgment thereon. It is not perfect — sui'ely not just as you would have it, kind reader — but perfect things are not to be expected of others, than ourselves. After passing the cold deductions of your criticisms, may we not ask a fragment of consolation in the fact that our intentions were worthy of commendation, at least, and may we ask of you, dear critic, what you did to aid the right in the preservation of our country's history ? We thank our friends who have contributed in any way to the success of the "History of Massac County" and hope it may receive a generous reception at the hands of the public. O. J. PAGE. Metropolis, 111., Sept. 1, 1900. Hon. Robert Wilson McCartney. FRONTISPIECE. HISTORY OF Massac County. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY EVENTS. ( O. J. PAGE.) 0 IN the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." "And God said, Let us make man in our own image; in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man and woman He had formed." ffi This is the sacred historical record of man's origin and first home in Eden, supposed to have been located in the valley of the Euphrates in Western Asia. From this "paradise" he has peopled the earth amid zones of icebergs and snow, as well as meadows of lilies and orange groves. Different climatic conditions have changed his skin, and varied environments have multiplied his languages until today we have different races and many tongues. Prom the birth of Christ back to "the beginning" the period of time is uncertain — but vague speculation. Usher's Biblical chronology fixes it at 4,004 years. It certainly was longer. Nations arose in the vigor of youth, fiourished and decayed. Successively over each other's ruins was erected .a 8 History of grander civilization in the evolution of man. China, Egypt, Persia, Judea, Athens and Rome bloomed and withered. In the 15th century civilization and trade hugged the Mediterranean sea, satisfled in the folly that the shores its waves were wont to kiss was all tbe world. Spain, now a by word, was fast becoming a mighty nation. France, England, the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy were also strong and ven turesome. In intellect men were broadening; commercially and in area their nations keenly felt the restriction imposed upon them. New and shorter routes tO' Cathay, and new routes to unknown fields must soon be found. Navigators and geographers did not di'sam the earth was round. Sailing was done near the frequented shore in small vessels. Deadly fear of hideous monsters prevented voyagers from attempting to cross the broad Atlantic, which bore upon its restless waves messages unread of the most inviting and fruitful land the hand of God had formed. The hour and man arrived. Christopher Columbus, born in the seafaring town of Genoa, Italy, a studious boy anre are still remaining evidences of a subterranean house at the point indicated. The Spanish govemment during its possession of Fort Massac had an American Secret Agent (we would now call him a Detective) named Daniel Flannery, whose grand-nephew, of the same name, lived many years and died in Massac county. From the 30 History of Massac Daniel Flannery, part of the Spanish traditions con cerning Fort Massac were obtained by the writer. The Span ish govemment very carefully and speciflcally recognized the services of their agent, Daniel Flannery, in connection with their possession of Fort Massac, and besides paying him a compensation in money, granted to him the right to locate a quantity of land equal to an area of four leagues in length and a third of a league in width anywhere in the Spanish pos sessions, not within one mile of Fort Massac. When Spain relinquished to France all her rights in the country after wards known as the Louisiana Territory and the Northwest Territory, she specially protected the grant of land to her agent Daniel Flannery, and in the relinquishment of the French claim to the Northwest Territory to Great Britain after the conquest of Canada, this same grant of land is pro tected by treaty stipulation. The facts stated in reference to the Daniel Flannery land grant may be found in the third volume of American state papers. Twelve hundred acres of the Flannery grant are located in Alexander county, Illinois, between Thebes and Santa Fe; and the flrst ejectment suit ¦ ever brought by the writer was to recover the Alexander coun ty portion of the Flannery Spanish grant, and by means of cer tified government records, in addition to oral testimony, a perfect title was established in the heirs at law of Daniel Flan nery, the Spanish detective, a.nd some of the history of Fort Massac was learned during the investigation of the Flannery title. When the land in South Illinois was surveyed and offered for sale, the land around Fort Massac was reserved from sale; and from 1808 to 1839 fractional section 12 in township 16 south of range 4 east (on which section Fort Massac stands) was held and known as a government reservation, to be used for some national purpose. In the year 1S3S a commission of army officers, including Surgeon General Lawson of the Unit ed States regular army, and a civil engineer, was appointed by the secretary of war in pursuance of an act of Congress, to visit the West and select a place for a Western armory. They visited Nashville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rock Island Massac County. 31 and many other points. They then visited Fort Massac, and remained there several days in June, 1838. They made a to pographical survej- of the country within a mile of the Fort and of the river bank for half a mile above and below the Fort ; and took the statements of all the neighboring Inhabitants as to knowledge of facts and traditions concerning the height of the river, and concerning the fort itself. The writer obtained the above facts conceming the United States Commission from the late J. H. G. Wilcox, and from Aaron B. Brown, and his wife, and from the family of General John M. Robinson, (then United States Senator from Illinois) and who accom panied the Commission to Fort Massac. Mr. A. B. Brown and wife were the mother and father and Mr. Wilcox was the uncle of Mr. Joseph Brown, now a worthy citizen of Metropolis. The father of Mrs. Brown owned the Metropolis Ferry ninety years ago, and owned the land on which part of Metropolis is built, and Mrs. Brown remembered when the Fort was occupied by United States soldiers and heard her father tell all the details connected with the soldiers who rendezvoused at Fort Mas sac during the period when danger was anticipated from the Burr conspiracy. Mrs. Brown's father lived in the Fort aft(!r the soldiers were withdrawn and Fort Massac ceased to be a military post. After the Commission returned to Washington they re ported in favor of Fort Massac as the best site in the West for a national armory. And in that report they say substan tially that Fort Massac, from its environments and topogra phy gives promise of being the healthiest point which they visited in the West. Subsequently the Westem Armorj- was located at Rock Island, and the fractional section twelve on which Fort Mas sac is situated, was offered for sale as other govemment land and was entered by John M. Robinson and a patent therefor was Issued to him and others by the United States, which patent is recorded in the Recorder's office of Massac county, and the title to the Fort as to all the lands in that section 12 is deraigned from him. General George Rogers Clark rendezvoused his little army 32 History of at Fort Massac, and rested several days on his way to the cap ture of Kaskaskia, and there at Fort Massac the flag of the New Union of the Colonies was first unfurled within the ter ritory now constituting the state of Illinois. These facts concerning the expedition of General Clark are matters of history; but were detailed by Mrs. Brown as told to her by her father. The earth works of Fort Massac are well preserved, and very much resemble the remaining earth works near New Orleans, known as the "Spanish Fort." The gravelled sentry walk may also be traced. CONSPIRACIES ABOUT FORT MASSAC. (O. J. PAGE.) French— Fort Massac, built by the French under M. Mas sac in November, 1758, when driven down the Ohio from Fort Du Quesne by General Forbes, has been a central figure in a number of intrigues against the govemment. Chief among these was that of Genet, the French minister, who came to the United States as a representative of his government in 1793, when England and France were at war. Because President Washington, a federaJist, would not openly aid the French, Genet secretly aided in the organization of anti-Federalist clubs to enlist men and raise supplies in an effort to wrest the Mississippi valley from Spain. Alluring offers of French com missions, pensions, titles and vast territorial interests, involv ing the free navigation of the Mississippi river, controlled by the Spanish were made, especially to Kentuckians who nat urally criticised the \\'ashingtonian government because they believed France was our great friend. Even General George Rogers Clark accepted a major general's commission, and when the forces began to leave the state Govemor Shelby re fused to prohibit them, replying to the secretary of state In substance that they were "friends" and "brethren," while Washington was an "enemy" and a, "tyrant." Massac County. 33 This sentiment was so general in Kentucky that Presi dent Washington ordered General Wayne to occupy Fort Mas sac with his artillery and arrest the rash expedition down the "Rivers." A great mass meeting was called at Lexington, 1794, which adopted violent resolutions of secession from the national government, but were nullified by the Instant with drawal of Genet and disavowal of his acts by his government. Spanish— About 1787 to 1791, the Spanish government in trigued with General Wilkinson, Sebastian, Innis and prom inent Kentuckians to secede from the East, and establish an "Independent govemment." The pay was to be $200,000.00, twenty cannon and munitions of war, supplied by his majesty, the Pope. Fort Massac was to be siezed and become the cen ter of operations against all Western posts. Be it said to the credit of Innis and Nicholas they refused. It was proved in the Kentucky legislature later that Sebastian annually drew a pension of |2,000 from Spain, a traitor to his country. The plot failed. Burr's Conspiracy— Aaron Burr, vice-president, brilliant lawyer, and murderer of Hamilton, conspired in 1806 and sought to aid the Spanish, whO' were advancing against Gen. Wilkinson, once commandant of the Western forces at Fort Massac. Burr induced Blannerhasset to join him. Blanner- hassett's Island is in the Ohio. Kentucky and Tennessee be came the field of his operations. He visited Fort Massac, and hoped to be able to either divide the nation, invade Mex ico, or form an aesthetic colony on the Washita river. Gen eral Wilkinson entered into the conspiracy, either as a de tective or a traitor to Burr and reported the plot to President Jefferson and aided in the wholesale arrests which followed. Henry Clay defended Burr, who was acquitted. Wilkinson was later tried for treason and acquitted. Burr died In a hovel, flt penalty to traitors. 34 History of CHAPTER IV. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. (O. J. PAGE.) SURFACE — Massac county contains 244 square miles, or about 156,160 acres. The surface nat urally divides itself into cultivated and timbered upland, low bottom lands densely timbered, cy- ^ press swamps, and small lakes. The lakes are •^ to be found for the most part in a connected chain extending from the Cache river in the northwest corner of the county in a southeast ward and then northeasterly course to big Bay river in the northeast comer of the county. Skirting these lakes are cypress swamps not covered during all the year with water but even in the dryest season pre senting a loose saturated black soil of a murky nature. Ad jacent to these swamps is a stretch of low bottom land with undulating sandy ridges which join the foot-hills of the up land, and intersect the swamps, rising slightly above the an nual overflow. This lower surface of lakes, swamps and un dulating low lands varies from a mile to four miles in width. The lakes occupy by far the smallest area, the swamps being more extensive, while the greater part consists in the low flat soil with undulating ridges or swells. Another swamp dis trict, annually overflowed by the Ohio, lies in the Black Bend and is termed the Black Bottom. It contains long lines of sloughs, cypress ponds, low flats, and sand ridges. The Ohio bottom lands in Massac county, however, are quite limited Massac County. 35 as undulating hills above high water closely fringe the bank. Between the chain of lakes, cypress swamps and low lands of the north and the Ohio lies the upland, forming a narrow brok en ridge in the western part becoming more rolling and wid ening to the east, less cut by numerous ravines and forming the greater area of the connty. Betweeu Johnson county and the swamp lands, the surface resembles Johnson county, is more elevated than the rest of the county, presents splendid open, tillable land, and in many places ends In precipitous bluffs marglnating the swamps. Drainage^ — One division of the uplands forms a water shed intersected by numerous ravines which carry the rainfall to the Ohio on one side and the lakes on the other. The Ohio backs up in the Cache river in the northwest and the drain age from the hills inundates the low lands with an apparent tendency to escape into the Ohio river by the Big Bay river, which it will do when that stream does not present as high backwater as the Cache. This order is reversed when the Cache is lower than Big Bay, presenting a drainage current alternating in its course. There also seems to be a low water shed between the swamp lands and Cache and also the Big Bay, which retains a large body of water as these streams fall. Herein lies the much discussed question of drainage and will be some day solved. Professor Englemann, who made the extensive and accurate geological survey of Massac county for Illinois, under the direction of State Geologist Worthen, says the lands inay be reclaimed by an artificial drainage system of simple dykes to prevent the overflow from the Cache and Big Bay rivers, and drainage ditches. This would reclaim 25,000 acres of the richest soil and add greatly to the health- fulness and material wealth of the county. Western Massac contains no large creeks. Eastern Massac is drained by the Eobinet, Barren, Dog, Elkhorn and Massac creeks. Soil — The upland between Johnson county and the swamps is underlaid with sand and limestone of the sub-car boniferous formation. The soil is light, warm and excellent farm land. The upland between the swamps and the Ohio 36 History of river bottoms, in the less broken parts is a yellow loam, oak barrens which merges into post oak flats. Sandy soil occurs in township 14, range 5, while a sub-stratum of gravel forma tion presenting a dry, sandy soil, varying to a rough yellow loam, occurs in townships and ranges: 15, 4; 14, 4; 15, 6; and 16,7. Thrifty German settlements have made of this upland fine fertile farms. The chain of lakes, cypress swamps, sand ridges, erosions on the sides of the bluffs in connection with the deep, loose, black silt formation clearly prove that the course of the Ohio river once followed the depression and after a change in the original course heavy currents of back water passed through until the deposit gradually prevented an ex cessive overflow. Of similar nature is the soil of the Black Bottom, the most fertile soil on the surface of the earth. Timber — Heavy growths of valuable timber have dotted the surface consisting of barren, post, black, laurel, white, black-jack, and water oaks; barren, scalybark and pignut hick ories; soft and sugar maple, pecan, tupelo and black gum; ash, Cottonwood, sycamore, willow, yellow poplar, sassafras, hazel, sumac, etc. Minerals, etc Coal formations do not extend into Mas sac county; thin streaks of carboniferous matter have ap peared which has led some to suppose coal might be found in paying quantities, but the state geologist assures us this is a "futile hope." He also informs us that all specimens of galena, or lead ore which have been found were brought by the Indians from other flelds. In section 26, range 6, town ship 14, fluor spar has been found, indicating lead ore, vaguely so. Iron ore exists only as it is dessimated throughout th" conglomerate gravel, which makes the conglomerate so val uable in the construction of streets and pikes and which is found SO' extensively near old Fort Massac. The iron is also mixed with smllex and prevents its being smelted. Near Go- lightly's mill is the best evidence of the existence of iron ore. The fluor spar might be utilized in the manufacture of hydro fluoric acid used in the mechanical arts. Copperas springs along the Ohio river are found and are of no value. Fine plas- Massac County. 37 tering sand prevails. The Chester and St. Louis limestones could be utilized in building, while the latter could be easily converted into qulck-limc. Excellent brick may be produced throughout the county. IVIOUndS— On the Kincaid farm, located in the Black Bend of the Ohio river, appears the clear outline of an earthenwork resembling a levee enclosing about 40 acres of land. Inside this enclosure are a number of mounds. Two of these mounds are quite large and are built according to the points of the compass. The one on which the residence stands is 45 feet high, perpendicular, with a 60 foot slope. Sundried cups bowls and water bottles have been found. An image, perhaps an idol, about 10 inches in height, was also found. Near this mound is another, also about 150 feet long, but rising higher at only one extremity. The barn occupies a flat mound about 20 feet high. Two are quite large and in the form ol a pyra mid. Many smaller ones exist and have been cultivated. In the spring of 1900 after the rise of the Ohio had receded the plowman found the skeletons of two very large human beings. The bones of the forearm were as long as the average forearm and extended hand while the lower jaw readily enclosed the lower jaw of an average man's face. I'he skeletons sat up right. These mounds present an interesting study to the sci entist and might be made to yield a number of valuable relics by proper investigation. AgriCUlture^The soli of Massac county is very fertile. Tobacco and cotton have been grown, but not to profit. Wheat and corn develop more perfectly here than in almost any spot on the globe. The best developed corn at the Columbian Ex position, Chicago, was from Massac county. While the acre age is necessarily limited the yield has reached one hundred and forty-two bushels per acre. Wheat Is the principal prod uct and the berry is usually so perfect that Pittsburg and East ern millers prize the crop. Oats and the grasses flourish. One ofthe chief occupations, however, is gardening. The various vegetables are readily and profitably grown. "V^'e have seen a number of delicious watermelons weighing almost 38 History of 70 pounds, unlike the Missouri melon, retaining their flavor. Musk-melons also thrive. Vineyards have been made to pay, while the delicious and beautiful strawberry develops into rare beauty, size and perfection. It might, perhaps, be a surprise to many to know that the vrinesap apple attains its most perfect growth in Massac county. To this statement, we know no exception in the way of territory. Wlnesap apples raised by Mr. R. Byrd Leeper In Jackson precinct have by the greatest horticulturists been declared to excel the world. By the Investment of some mon ey, the exercise of caution and patience it is believed the fertile acres of Massac county could be made to produce a Wlnesap apple which would find a ready market at large profit. The open sweep from the southland and the great protection from cold storms by the skirting Ozarks on the north in a great measure accounts for this condidon. Points of Interest in Agriculture— d. h. Freeman, the veteran secretary of the Massac County Fruit Growers' Asso ciation, tells us in his most excellent little pamphlet, entitled "Southern Illinois," that the largest wheat yield was by John Anderson, who threshed 102 bushels off two acres; W. C. Sex ton raised 2,005 bushels on fifty acres; John Stewart made 910 bushels on twenty acres; while J. D. Kennedy realized 29 bushels per acre on land which had been in constant cultiva tion over 50 years without artificial fertilization and only one year in clover. John McElya raised 140 1-2 bushels of corn on one acre, and took the world prize, offered by W. H. Maule of Philadelphia, on canteloupes. The prize was $25.00, secured with a cantaloupe weighing 28 1-2 pound; S. H. Johnson took a .|15.00 prize for best yield of tomatoes and a |50.00 on the largest yield of Japanese buckwheat off'ered by Mr. Maule, and open to the world; F. N. Kirk raised 300 bushels of Irish potatoes on one acre without the use of fertilizer; William Mesker raised a sweet potato weighing 10 pounds, 9 1-2 inches by 13 1-2 Inches in diameter; John Oakes paid |10 to raise an acre of melons which made him $200; D. H. Freeman gathered 125 barrels of apples per acre on an orchard grown on land that had been in constant cultivation for seventy years. Tlie Massac County. 39 trees were seven years' growth; Robert Williams, a practical gardener, grows four crops of vegetables each season on the same soil. Proud Record— In the Illinois building at the World's Fair was arranged a corn exhibit of Immense proportions which astonished the world. From this exhibit was selected a small number of ears of corn to enter the competition in the general exhibit for the "World's Best Corn" prize. Mr. Free man chose ears grown by H. D. Fry, our county commissioner, as perfect ears of white bread-corn and Mr. Fry holds the di ploma over the whole world. Because of this the state agri cultural society called upon Mr. Freeman to supply from Mas sac county the com exhibit which took the premium at the Mid- Winter exhibit in San Francisco, California, the following winter. Why should we not feel proud of our record? 40 History of CHAPTER V. PEOPLES. (O. J, PAGE.) WHEN organized as a county, 1843, there were about 250 votes, near 1,500 people, composed for the most part of eraigrants from the Southern States, and a few free negroes, others serving by inden- ^ ture. *^ A gradual though almost imperceptible flow of Eastern and Northern elements has changed to a certain extent the character of the people, not distinctly racial as the Germans and colored. The census of 1890 gave Massac county "11,313, chiefly of American birth, including colored." An addition of 33 1-3 per cent will give us 15,084 under the census of this year, 1900. It may be less or it may be more. Of this number fully one-third are of German blood, while strictly demonstrating their heredity — many born in Germany — they are positively Americanized, exceedingly law-abiding, industrious, frugal, honest, intelligent and control a lion's share of the wealth of the county. They support six churches and two parochial schools, although they are not exclusive, but sociable and fraternal. Not only are they engaged in till ing many of the best farms, but they comprise many of our leading business men, hold bank stock, wield a strong politi cal influence and are a valuable factor in the peace, progress and prosperity of Massac county. Another large element are of various extractions, among them a hardy Scotch element. Immigrants from Tennessee, Massac County. 41 Kentucky, the Carolinas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine and other places. From this element come most of our professional .men, teachers, lawyers and physicians. There is not a single Oerman practicing law in Massac county, only a sinall per cent of the physicians and a very small per cent of the teach ers. Instead their tastes run ih other directions, while the varied elements of our society to a great measure supply these professions, and are to be found among the best citizens of the county. The colored race came to the river counties among the first people in the hopes of securing their freedom. The Yan- ceys and Chavises were early families' — the former always free. There are about 330 colored votes in the county and 2,500 colored citizens, located principally in Metropolis, Brooklyn, the Black Bottoms and in the lower end of the county. They are above the average of their race, and support two Method ist, one Presbyterian, one Christian, and two Baptist church es. Plenty of teachers are supported — who are intelligent and weil-educated at Carbondale, 111., and WUberforce, Ohio, to Instruct the children. Aside from a floating element, they are industrious and law-abiding, and represent considerable capital. 42 History of CHAPTER VI. POLITICAL HISTORY. (O. J. PAGE.) TERRITORY— After the Revolution the colonies ceded their western territory to the Federal Gov ernment, which in 1787 was organized as the "Northwest Territory." From this successive ^ states were carved, until Feb. 3, 1809, Congress ^^ organized the "Illinois Territory," and flxed the capital at Kaskaskia. Vandalia became the capital in 1820, and Springfleld in 1837,. Ran dolph and St. Clair counties constituted the ter ritory. The government was ot the first grade until 1812, the territorial governor, John Boyle, succeeded by Ninlan Edwards, was appointed by the President and in con nection with the judges, constituted the "Legislative Council." The governor appointed all the officers; in 1812 the second grade was established and the people elected a legislative council of flve members and a house of representatives of seven members, also a delegate to Congress. In 1809 there were but two counties, St. Clair and Ran dolph. The flrst territorial legislature increased the number to flve by the addition of Madison, Gallatin and Johnson, in (1812); and Jackson, (1816); the four latter constituting Southern Illinois. CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY. Shadrach Bond, Benjamin Stephenson, and Nathaniel Pope succeeded each other as territorial delegates to congress, (1809-1818). When Illinois was admitted it constituted one Massac County. 43 Congressional district, from 1818-1833. lliis period was cov ered by the sixteenth to twenty-second congresses, inclusive. Daniel P. Cook of Kaskaskia, a Democrat, represented the State in the XVL, XVH., XVIIL, and XlXth Congresses from 1818 to 1827, when Joseph Duncan, Democrat, of Jackson and Morgan counties, succeeded him and served during the XX., XXIst and XXIInd Congresses, 1872-1883. February 13, 1831, the state was divided into three dis tricts and an election ordered on the flrst Monday in August, 1832. Gallatin, Pope, Johnson, Alexander, Union, Jackson, Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Washington, Clinton, Bond, Madison and Macoupin counties formed the First district. Massac was not yet formed. Charles Slade, Democrat, Belleville, was elected, soon died and was succeed ed by John Reynolds, Democrat, Belleville, who continued through the XXIIIrd and XXIVth Congresses, 1833-1837. Amos W. Snyder, Democrat, Belleville, was chosen during the XXVth Congress, (1837-'39), and Reynolds then succeeded him through the XXVIth and XXVIIth congresses, 1839-'43. March 1, 18-43, the state was redistricted, and Massac hav ing been formed, Feb. 8, 1843, was included in this apportion ment. Along with thirteen other counties of Southeastern Illinois it constituted the second congressional district, there being seven in all. John A. McClernand, democrat, Shawnee town, represented this district from 1843-'53. August 22, 1852, the state was divided into nine districts, Massac with seventeen other counties in Southern Illinois, con stituted the ninth. Willis Allen, Democrat, Marion, served from 1853 to 1855; Samuel S. Marshal, Democrat, McLeans- boro ,1855-'59 ; and John A. Logan, Democrat, Benton,1859-'62 ; April 4th, 1862, Logan resigned, entered the federal army and was succeeded by W. J. Allen, Democrat, Marion. April 24, 1861, thirteen districts were constituted, and Massac, with fourteen other Southern Illinois counties, consti tuted the thirteenth district. An error was made because the state was entitled to fourteen Congressmen, hence the flrst case of a Congressman-at-large, or elected by the vote of the whole State. William J. Allen was re-elected in 1863, and served till 44 History of 1865, during the XXXVIIIth Cpngress. He was succeeded by A. J. Kuykendall, Republican, Johnson county, 1865-'67; Green B. Raum, Republican, Metropolis, 1867-'69; John M. Crebs, Democrat, Carmi, 1869-'73; and John A. Logan had been re turned as Congressman-at-large as a republican, 1867-'71, when he resigned and took his seat in the Senate. July 1, 1872, there were constituted nineteen districts in the state, Massac county with nine other contiguous counties forming the eighteenth district. Isaac Clements, Republican, Carbondale, served from 1873-'75 ; William Hartzell, Democrat, Chester, served 1875-'81; when John R. Thomas, Republican, succeeded him from Metropolis and served flve terms success ively, 1881-'91. April 29, 1882, the state was di^dded into twenty Congresr sional districts and Massac, with nine others, constituted the twentieth. John R. Thomas served three terms under this ap portionment and was succeeded in 1889 by George W. Smith, Republican, Murphysboro. June 9th, 1893, the number of districts was increased to twenty-two and Massac placed in the twenty-second. This is the last apportionment, but will be changed, 1901, by the legis lature and the number increased under the census of 1900. George W. Smith, Republican, Murphysboro, has represented the district for six successive terms,1889-1900. He is his party's nominee for the seventh term, subject to the election in Novem ber. L. 0. Whltnel, Democra't, Vienna, is his opponent. It will be seen that every Congressman until 1865, was Democrat ic, when the Republicans elected A. J. Kuykendall. Successes alternated until the flrst election of John R. Thomas, Republi can, over William Hartzell, 1879, since which time the Re publicans have remained in power. JUDICIAL HISTORY. The constitution of 1818 established a supreme court of one chief and three associate justices. Inferior courts were subjects of legislation. By an act of the Legislature, January 7, 1835, all laws re quiring justices of the Supreme Court to hold court in the Massac County. 45 various counties was repealed. By act of Jan. 8, 1829, the General Assembly had been directed to elect one circuit judge to be assigned to a circuit north of the Illinois river. In addi tion to this the act of 1835 created five more circuit judges to hold court in the counties to which they might be assigned. This number was increased from year to year until by an act of Feb. 10, 1841, the whole judicial organization of circuit judges was wiped out of existence and the General Assembly by joint ballot directed to choose five additional associate justices of the supreme court, who Were to preside in connection with the three associates and chief justice theu in office. Nine judges performed circuit duty in the nine circuits reorganized by the same act and continued to do so until the changes wrought by the constitution of 1848. The constitution of 1848 established a supreme court of three judges — ^one elected from each of three divisions of ihe state for nine years. Nine judicial circuits were also estab lished, subject to change in number by legislation. Each judge served six years, and required two terms at least of circuit court annually to be held in each county. The constitution of 1870, created a Supreme Court of seven judges, elected by the people and to serve nine years. The state was divided into seven supreme divisions. Appellate Courts might also be created by legislation. The Legislature accordingly created four appellate courts in 1877. The Su preme Court assigns the duty of holding appellate court in each appellate division to three circuit judges — one to preside — for a term of three years. Circuit courts — "The People's Tribunal" — were also constituted by the oo-nstitution and have original jurisdiction of all causes in law and equity arising betAveen man and man. They also have appellate jurisdiction over cases from the Inferior courts. Perhaps 95 per cent of all causes never go beyond these courts. Each county shall have two terms, at least, annually. Circuit judges serve six years. The legislature in 1873 divided the state into twentyTsix judicial circuits, outside of Cook county, and ordered the elec tion of one judge to each circuit. In 1877, the num/oer of cir cuit judges was increased by creating thirteen circuits of three 46 History of judges each, twelve of whom were assigned to appellate duty upon the organization of those courts. In 1897 a new appor tionment of judicial districts was made, constituting seventeen districts instead of thirteen. The salary of a circuit judge is $3,500 annually. Early courts for people of this section were held in Ben ton, Jonesboro, Vienna, etc. When Massac county was organ ized in 1843 the first term of circuit court convened on the third Monday of October, 1843. The judge, however, did not arrive until Tuesday, and the record says, "Present, the Hon. Walter B. Scales, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, and presiding judge of the third judicial circuit of said state." Judge Scales continued to preside until the October term, 1847, when he was succeeded by the Hon. William A. Denning, associate justice of the Supreme Court. Judge Denning was relieved at the June term, 1854, by Hon. W. K. Parrish, a circuit judge, in and for the third judicial cir cuit. Hon Wesley Sloan, commissioned judge in the nine teenth circuit, March 19, 1857, succeeded Judge Parrish at the April term, 1857, and presided continuously until the Novem ber term, 1867, when Hon. John Olney succeeded him. Judge Olney presided until the May term, 1869. Hon. David J. Baker succeeded him. Judge Balier successively presided through the long period reaching to the November term, 1877, which was held by Judge John Dougherty. Judge Baker resumed this bench in the following April term, 1878. Judge Monroe C. Crawford held the Noveinber term, 1878, Judge Oliver A. Harker the April term, 1879, when Judge Baker again resumed the bench of Massac county, continuing until April term, 1884, during which year Judge O. A. Harker was the presiding judge. During the April term, 1885, Judge David J. Baker again pre-' sided. At the special August and regular November term, 1885, Judge Robert W. McCartney presided and continued un til the November term, 1891, except the November term of 1888, when Judge George W. Y'oung presided. Hons. Joseph P. Robarts, Oliver A. Harker and A. K. Vick ers were elected judges for this, the first circuit, June 1, 1891, and re-elected June 7, 1897. During this time they have each Massac County. 47 served upon the bench of Massac county. Judge Robarts is now assigned to this county. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY. When the first territorial legislature was elected, Oct. 9, 10, and 12, 1812, there were flve counties, St. Clair and Ran dolph, created 1795, and Madison, Gallatin, and Johnson, or ganized Sept. 14, 1812. This legislature comprised flve council- men (Senators) and seven representatives. Pierre Menard was president of the council. Thomas Furgeson was the council man from this territory then comprised in Johnson county. He held the position from 1812- -the flrst session — until the close of the early session, 1816, when John Grammar, then of Johnson county, succeeded him, having previously been the representative. Grammar was a member of the council when the state was admitted. Joseph Palmer was the representa tive from Johnson county from 1816 to 1818 and Samuel Omel- veney became a member of the last session from the newly formed county of Pope. By the constitution adopted upon the admission of the state, 1818, the number of representatives must not be less than twenty-seven, nor more than thirty-six until the population equaled 100,000 inhabitants, the senators were to be at least one-third the number of representatives and not more than one-half. Massac county being a part of Johnson and Pope counties until 1843, was represented in the General Assembly of Illinois by the Senators and Representatives from the dis tricts in which they were apportioned. From 1818 to 1848 the adoption of the second constitution. Senators from Pope were Lewis Barker in the first, second, third and fourth assemblies (1818-'26); Samuel Alexander, flfth, sixth, seventh and part of eighth, (1826-1833); John Raum, part of eighth, and succeeded by James A. Whiteside in ninth and tenth; J. Worthington Gibbs; the eleventh and twelfth; George Waters, the thirteenth and fourteenth; Thomas G. C. Davis, afterwards of Massac county, and a member of the constitutional convention of 1848, of the flfteenth. The Senators from Johnson county were Thomas Roberts of the flrst; Milton Ladd of the second and 48 History of third; John Ewing of the fourth and flfth; Willis Allen of Franklin county, aftenvard State's Attorney in Massac county, served during the fourteenth and fifteenth sessions. The Representatives from Pope county up to 1848 were Hons. Green B. Field; Robert Hamilton; William M. Alexan der; Edward Robertson; Samuel Alexander; James A. White side; William Sims; Charles Dunn; Jonathan Daii-man; John W. Read, afterwards Sheriff of Massac county; George T. Wa ters; Philip Vineyard; AVilliam Rhodes; Joseph Diarman, and Wesley Sloan. Johnson county has furnished Isaac D. Wilcox, William P. McFatridge; John Bridges; Joseph L. Priestly; John Oliver; Benjamin S. Enloe; John Dement; Andrew J. Kuykendall, and Enoch Enloe. The constitution adopted in 1848 gave the senate twenty- five members and the house of representatives seventy-five un til the population should reach one million, when the number in the house could be increased to 100. By section VH., the state was divided into twenty-five senatorial districts. Alexander, Union, Pulaski, Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin comprised the first senatorial district. This appor tionment stood until 1854. The Senators were William Y. Da vis, Johnson county, sixteenth session ; Andrew J. Kuykendall^ Johnson county, seventeenth and eighteenth. The senatorial district did not, as now, coincide with the representative dis tricts. Thus Massac, Pope and Hardin were allowed one rep resentative and they were as follows: Wesley Sloan, Pope county, during three successive terms— the sixteenth, seven teenth and eighteenth. Judge Sloan proved a most effective member in the statutory revision. February 27, 1854, Alexander, Union, Johnson, Pulaski, Massac, Pope, Hardin and Gallatin constituted the twenty- fifth senatorial district until 1861. Andrew J. Kuykendall of Johnson county served during all this time. Pope, Hardin, and Massac formed the second representative district as before and George W. Gray, Massac, W;esley Sloan, Pope; W. H. Green, Massac, served during the time, Hon. W. H. Green serving two terms. Massac County. 49 By an act of Jan. 31, 1861, Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin,Gallatln and Saline were formed into the flrst senatorial district and continued so until the adop tion ofthe constitution, 1870. Hon. W.H. Green, Massac, served as Senator in the twenty third and twenty-fourth General As semblies. He was the last democratic senator, being succeed ed in the twenty-flfth and sixth by Hon. Daniel Munn of Alex ander, now of Cook county. During this time Massac, Pope and Johnson continued as the second representative district and was represented by Hons. Thomas B. Hicks, Massac; Wil liam A. Looney, Johnson; Phil G. Clemens, Pope; and Jona than C. Willis, Massac. By the constitution of 1870, the twenty-seventh General Assembly, convening Jan. 4, 1871, there were flfty senators from twenty-five districts. Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Union, Pope, Johnson, Gallatin and Saline made the flrst district. Si mon K. Gibson, Gallatin, was chosen Senator and soon after died. He was succeeded by William G. Bowman, Alexander. The other Senator was T. A. E. Holcomb, Union. Pulaski and Massac sent one representative to this assembly, William R. Brown, who was the most influential member in making the ap portionment under the new constitution. Beginning with the twenty-eighth General i^-ssembly, which convened Jan. 8, 1873, there were by virtue of the apportionment of March 1, 1872, under the new constitution, flfty-one senators, each represent ing a senatorial district containing the number of people ob tainable by dividing the population of Illinois by the census of 1870, by flfty-one, which number of senators is flxed by the constitution and is unchangeable. The senators serve for a term of four years and the districts were numbered from one to flfty-one, beginning at Alexander county and ending with Cook. This was only for the numbering of the districts under the flrst apportionment, which is done every ten years. The even numbered districts, however, elected new senators in 1872 and the odd numbered in two years following,thus having what is termed "hold-over" senators in each assembly, insuring ex perience in legislation in that body. Hon. Charles M. Ferrell, Hardin, Democrat; Samuel Glassford, Johnson, Republican; 50 History of Andrew J. Kuykendall, Johnson, Republicau, were the Sena tors until the apportionment of 1882. By the same apportionment of 1872 each senatorial district elects three members of the lower house in each General As sembly every two years. ^A^hat Is termed minority representa tion was also established by the constitution, which seeks to give the party having a majority of voters in a district two rep resentatives and the party having the niinority vote one repre sentative in the lower house. Each voter may, therefore, vote, one vote each, for three candidates, two of one party and one of another. Instead, however, if the voter's party has the two candidates, he may vote his three votes for the two, giving one and one-half votes each or he may give all three votes to one candidate. This is terraed "plumping." In several districts three candidates of one party have been elected. The members ofthe lower house during the twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, thir tieth and thlrty-flrst assemblies, representing the flfty-flrst sen atorial district comprised of Pulaski, Massac, Johnson, Pope and Hardin were as follows: James L. Wymore and Francis Mc Gee, Johnson county, and Newton R. Casey, Pulaski, in the twenty-eighth; Benjamin O. Jones, Massac, James R. Steagall, Pope, and Lewis F. Plater, Hardin, in the twenty-ninth ; W. S. Morris, Hardin, Alonzo D. Pierce, Pope, and E. B. Watkins, Pulaski, thirtieth; Jaraes H. Carter, Johnson, Henry H. Spen cer, Pulaski, and Thomas G. Farris, Johnson, who soon died, and William V. Eldredge succeeded him in the thirty-flrst; William A. Spann, Johnson, W. S. Morris, Hardin, and J. D. Young, Massac, in the thirty-second. Under the apportionment of 1882, Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope and Massac formed the forty-ninth district until the ap portionment ol 1893. During this time William S. Morris, Republican, of Pope, served four years; John Yost, Republi can, Gallatin, four years, and Thomas H. Sheridan, Pope, four years, as senators. During this apportionment, the Republi can members in the house were Robert W. McCartney, Massac, and William H. Boyer, Saline, in the thirty-third; James M. Gregg, Democrat, Saline, John Yost, Republican, Gallatin, Simon S. Barger, Republican, Pope, and W. V. Choisser, Dem ocrat, in the thirty -fourth; William G. Sloan, Republican, Sa- Massac County. 51 line, Simon S. Barger Republican, Pope, and J. F. Taylor, Dem ocrat, Pope, in the thirty-flfth; William G. Sloan, Republican, Saline, Royal R. Lacey, Republican, Hardin, and Hugh C. Gregg, Democrat, Gallatin, in the thirty-sixth; Fowler A. Arm strong, Republican, Massac, Thomas R. Reid, Republican, Gal latin, and Geo. B. Parsons, Democrat, Gallatin, in the thirty- seventh; H. R. Fowler, Democrat, Hardin, F. A. Armstrong, Massac, A. W. Lewis, Saline, Republicans, in the thirty-eighth. June 15th, 1893 the counties of Pulaski, Massac, Johnson, Pope and Saline were formed into the flfty-flrst senatorial dis trict, and Hon. P. T. Chapman, Johnson, has been the senator continuously. Fowler A. Armstrong, Massac, and Richard M. Johnson, Pulaski, Republicans, and C. A. F. Rondeau, Demo crat, Pope, represented the district in the thirty-ninth ; Joseph W. King, Pope, and William H. Parish, Saline, Republicans, p. A. Trousdale, Massac, Democrat, in the fortieth ; Geo. E. Martin, Pulaski, and Oliver J. Page, Massac, Republicans, and A. G. Dabney, Democrat, of Saline, in the forty-flrst. The Re publican candidates nominated July 8th, 1900, for the forty- second General Assembly at the Senatorial convention in Mound City were S. B. Kerr, Massac, and C. P. Skaggs, Saline. The Democrats have nominated L. H. Frizzell of Vienna, Johnson county, as the minority candidate for the forty-second General Assembly. 52 History of CHAPTER VII. COUNTY ORGANIZATION. FEBRUARY 8tb, 1843, by an act ofthe Legislature, Massac county was created. By that act the counties of Johnson and Pope were lessened and the following boundary line described: "Begin ning at the southwest corner of Johnson county on the bank of the Ohio river, and running thence north with the range line dividing townships one ^w and two, east of the third principal meridian, to Cash river, thence up to the center ofthe main chan nel of said Cash river to the township linedivlding townships thirteen and fourteen, thence east along said line, to the county line dividing the counties of Pope and Johnson, thence southeast so as to strike at the southeast corner of township flfteen south, six east, thence three miles south, thence east to the Ohio river, thence down the Ohio river to the place of beginning shall constitute a new county, to be called the county of Massac." The county surveyor of Pope county, G. H. Hanna, was ordered to survey the line between Pope and Massac county, before the first Monday of April. In the same act an election of county offlcers for the new county was ordered for the flrst Monday of April, 1843, and the coimty clerks of Johnson and Pope counties were directed to issue notices of such election and returns from the election were made to the clerk of the county court of Johnson county, who was authorized to issue certificates of election to the offi cers elect. Upon the election and qualification the said officers were to constitute the official organization of Massac county, as follows: One sheriff, one coroner, recorder, one treasurer, one pro- Massac County. 53 bate justice of the peace, one school commissioner, three coun ty commissioners, county surveyor, and clerk of the county commissioners' court. The first meeting of the county board was held April 8, 1843, by S. G. Allen, Jonathan Moody, and J. T. Collier. Num bers one, two and three were drawn to determine the terra of service, resulting in Moody drawing one, Collier two, and Allen three. The bond of J. W. Carmichael as county clerk was ap proved and adjournment taken until April 17th, when religious services, conducted by Rev. H. G. Estell, opened the delibera tions of the board. At this meeting Johnson county orders were refused in payment of the amount of taxes due the newly organized county; William McDowell was appointed constable in Hillerman precinct to fill a vacancy. Orders were given for the reviewing of highways connecting given points over the most feasible route, which was not likely to promote very straight highways. Jackson, Washington, Metropolis, George's Creek, and Wilconsonville precincts were formed, judges ap pointed and elections ordered. Fifteen road districts were formed and supervisors appointed; also Justice ol the peace and constable precincts were established. Overseers of the poor in the various precincts to the number of six were appoint ed at this meeting. The first order recorded is for three dol lars in favor of the first sheriff, John W. Read, in payment for a blank book. July 4th ,1843, was the day appointed to sell on a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months' time, lots in Me tropolis to the highest and best bidder. Elijah Smith was ap pointed the first assessor of Massac county. It was further ordered that sealed proposals be received for the building of the court house, all subject to refusal by the board, who would on July 5th, let the building of the court house out to the lowest and best bidder. It was also ordered that J. H. Wilcox & Co. execute a warranty deed to the county board and their successors in office for the two acres of land to form a public square lying north of said town and immedi ately at the end of Market street. The rate of taxation for county purposes was fixed at 25 cents on every |100 valuation. The meetings had been held in the Manville house, corner 54 History of of Ferry and Second street. The old Methodist church was se lected as the place to hold circuit court pending the construc tion of a court house. On April 29th, 1843, the plan ol the court house, drafted by Samuel Arnont was selected. June 6, 1843, Wilcox and McBane deeded two and one-half acres of land for a public square. The following constituted the first grand jury: Pleasant Ward, Perry Little, Hugh McGee, Wil liam Thompson, J. B. Marbry, Burrel Anderson, Robert Whit- ton, Benjamin Connyers, Jacob C. Kidd, William Massie, J. 0. Killgrove, Lewis Johnson, Jesse Simpson, C. A. Shelby, James Holmes, John Stubbs, Solomon Lytton, Reuben Smith, Isaac Davison, Hyram Gollghtly, Robert McCormick. All are now dead. The petit jurors were: Perry Smith, Alfred Copeland. George Holden, William Cain, James Hall, James H. William son, Moses B. Somers, John Looney, James T. Wilcox, John P. Choat, I. P. Hughey, A. B. Brown, A. W. Robins, Sylvester Smith, John Wilkins, Isaac D. Sugg, Edward Fleece, John Tooley, David Leech, James Turner, Levi Eice, Lyman Miller, W. W. Turner, and Young Lynn. J. P. Choat is the only sur viving member. March 6th, 1845, John West paid the county flve dollara for a permit to erect a theater and five dollars was paid by a theatrical company for the privilege to perform September 1, 1845. March 2nd, 1846, Valentine Owen was allowed to operate a ferry to Paducah from the opposite bank. The rate of taxa tion for 1846 was 40 cents on each one hundred dollars' valu ation. On September 21st, B. S. Enloe was removed from the office of commissioner of schools because he would not report according to the order of the county board and confessed him self an embezzler. Richard S. Nelson was appointed to suc ceed him, who was in turn removed for negligence, Dec. 22, 1846, and James Elliott appointed to succeed him. The tax rate for 1847 was 40 cents. On September 6th, 1847, suit was ordered brought against Wilcox & McBane, proprietors of Metropolis, to compel them to finish the court house. A settlement was reached by Wil cox & McBane deeding a number of town lots to the county, which were later sold at auction. Massac County. 55 William Richardson, the flrst colored boy, by his attorney, T. G. C. Davis, appeared July 14, 1849, before the county board and presented proofs that he was free born. Benton precinct was. formed Sept. 6, 1843. September 18th was set as the day to receive bids for the building of the county jail. On the same day John Hynes, Henry Eddy, Alex. Kirkpatrick and others were licensed to keep a ferry at Massac and J. H. G. Wilcox was licensed to keep a ferry at Metropolis. The rates were fixed as follows: 6 horse team and wagon (low water) • $2 50 4 horse team and wagon 2 00 3 horse team ahd wagon ' • 1 75 2 horse team and wagon 1 50 1 horse and wagon . • 1 25 1 horse and cart 75 1 man and horse .. . . • 50 1 footman 25 On November 4, 1843, John King was awarded the contract to build the first jail on lot 417, block 35, for $349.00. The jail was to be of good hewn timber one foot thick, hewn to a joint and dove-tailed corners. The first assessment of the county cost |36.00, one-half paid by the county and one-half by the state. The tax rate for 1S44 was fixed at 50 cents one the one hundred dollars. At the December term, 1852, one William Morgan, a pau per, was ordered "sold out," and R. H. Foy was paid five dol lars to sell him. A certificate was issued at the same time as follows: "That John B. Hicks Is a man of probity and good demeanor." Mr. Hicks was a member of the county board and only he and John Shirk were present. John W. Read was appointed to take the flrst census of the county, September, 1845. About 250 voters lived in the county. The early records abound in orders granting license to the ancestors of many of our leading citizens of today and to some of our leading citizens yet living, to keep a grocery in which at that time liquors were vended. The plan in many respects ex celled the present "exclusive license" because no loafers were allowed to congregate at these stores and no liquors were sold to inebriates. 56 History of Massac county has never adopted what is termed "town ship organization." Under such organization the county board consists of one member from each township into which the county is divided. The office of "Assessor and Treasurer" as we now have it would be abolished, and a county treasurer would be elected, while each township would elect separate officers to assess and collect the taxes. The sheriff would also be no longer collector of taxes. Each township would elect its own justices of the peace, constables, and minor officers. Nine-tenths of the counties of Illinois have adopted township organization. COUNTY OFFICERS. The record of county officials from the organization of the- county to the present is here given as complete as could be ob tained from various sources. CIRCUIT CLERKS. The first circuit clerk of the Massac county circuit court was John B. Hicks, an early pioneer and life-long Democrat. He was appointed by Judge Walter B. Scales in 1843, and served until 1852, consecutively. In 1800 he was re-elected and served until 1864. Upon the death of James Elliott, then cir cuit clerk, in the spring of 1866, Judge Sloan appointed him to serve as clerk pro tem until the fall election. James Elliott, another early pioneer citizen, school-teach er, father of Messrs. John M. Elliott, merchant, and James L. Elliott, cashier of the National State bank, was elected in 1852 and served until 1860. He was re-elected in 1864, but died within about eighteen months. At the general election in the fall of 1S66 Major E. P. Cur tis, yet living and resident ol Metropolis, 111., was elected to fill out the unexpired term of James Elliott, deceased, and con tinued in office for twenty-six (26) consecutive years. In the general election of 1892, Capt. S. B. Kerr, whose sketch appears elsewhere, was chosen, and served until 1896. Colfax Morris, the present incumbent, was elected in 1896, Massac County. 57 and is a candidate for re-election at the coming November elec tion. His opponent is W. F. Tucker. Of the number serving John B. Hicks was always a Demo crat, James Elliott was elected as a democrat until 1864, when he was the choice of the Republican party, since which time the officials have been Republican. SHERIFFS. John W. Read was the first sherlfi' of Massac county. In 1850 W. P. Bruner was elected. George Gray, 1852. W. P. Bruner re-elected, 1854. J. F. Mears, 1856. Larkin H. Simp son, 1858. J. F. Mears, re-elected, 1860. George Coriis, 1862. Benjamin Rankin, 1864. Samuel Atwell, 1866. Robert H. Leek, 1868. Abram Bruner, 1870 and 1872. William Tindall, 1874. Abram Bruner, 1876. Thomas J. Taylor, 1878 and 1880. William Karr, 1882. William Tindall, 1886. Robert C. Bar- ham, 1890. Green W. Smith, 1894. John W. Evers., 1898. William Karr was the first sheriff elected for four years, since which time tliey are ineligible to succeed them selves until another has served at least a term. Thomas J. Taylor, yet living, is the only sheriff to perform a legal hanging in Massac county. During his second term he executed one, Samuel Redding, convicted of murder in the Massac county circuit court on a change of venue from Pulaski county, where the crime was committed. STATES ATTORNEYS. Willis Allen, afterward Congressman Allen, was the first State's Attorney. William A. Denning, afterward Judge Den ning, succeeded him. Samuel S. Marshall, who became Con gressman and was once candidate for the United States Sen ate, served after Judge Denning, and was succeeded by W. K. Parrish, afterwards Judge Parrish. John A. Logan was proS: ecutor from 1854 to 1856 and directed the famous trial result ing in the conviction of Decatur Campbell, but later advised the basis upon which the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Circuit Court. His fame since then is known to all. Munro C. Crawford was elected but the district was altered be fore he appeared at the Massac county circuit court, and Thom- 58 History of as H. Smith became the next state's attorney. He was suc ceeded by Milton Bartley and he by G. W. Neeley, who died be fore the expiration of his term of office. Capt. J. F. McCart ney, yet living in Metropolis, all the others who actually served being dead, was appointed to the vacancy and in 1866 was elected for a full term, Captain McCartney was the last State's Attorney to serve for the district. John R. Thomas was elect ed State's Attorney in and for the county of Massac, 1872. He later served ten years in Congress from Metropolis and is now a Federal Judge on the bench of the Indian Territory. In 1876 Theodore B. Hicks, formerly a member of the Legislature, and son of John B. Hicks, was elected. Benjamin O. Jones, also a former representative, succeeded Mr. Hicks in 1880. John W. Peter, son of Colonel R. A. Peter, was elected in 1884. D. W. Helm was chosen in 1888 and has served consecutively for twelve years. Frederick R. Young is the Republican candidate for State's Attorney subject to the general election, Nov 6, 1900. H. A. Evans is the Democratic candidate. COUNTY CLERKS. As in the case of the Circuit Clerks, the number of County Clerks is small. Several have a long and honorable career. John W. Carmichael heads the list. He was succeeded by J. W. Bailey in 1849. A. B. Browne comes next in 1853, and Nehemiah Williams in 1857. Mr. Williams soon died and was succeeded by his son, D. E. Williams, 1860. B. F. Taylor was elected, 1861, and L. P. Stalcup in 1865. Samuel Atwell was elected, 1869. He was succeeded by S. S. Shoemaker in 1877, who served for five years because of a statute altering the date of the election. Samuel Atwell was again chosen in 1882, and still serves in the same capacity. COUNTY JUDGES. The present office of County Judge did not at first exist. What is now the county board was composed of a probate jus tice and two associates. Later this order was changed and one of the county board was a County Judge with two associates. S. G. Allen, Jonathan Moody, John B. Hicks, Elijah Smith, Massac County. 59 Benjamin J. Delavan and Edward M. McMahon served consec utively until the oflice of County Judge was divorced from the county board with probate, civil and criminal jurisdiction in certain cases. In 1873 R. W. McCartney became County Judge. In 1882, Robert N. Smith; in 1886, J. C. Willis; in 1890, Benjamin O. Jones; iu 1894, George Sawyer, re-elected in 1898 and still pre siding. SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS At first the director of the public schools of Massac county was termed the "school commissioner." He then held private oral examinations of applicants for license to teach, "Readin,' 'Ritln', and 'Rithmetic," or the three "r's" which practically covered the scope of the examination. The first teachers in what is now Massac county were John B. Hicks, Williara Clan- ahan, father of Rev. C. L. Clanahan, and B. G. Roots, who taught at Belgrade. The first commissioner was Rev. H. G. Estell, who served until December, 1844, at which time B. S. Enloe came into office. Enloe proved to be negligent and a defaulter, self-con fessed. He was accordingly removed Sept. 1, 1846, and R. S. Nelson succeeded him. Nelson proved also to be unfit and was removed by the county board Dec. 22, 1846. James Elliott was chosen and filled the office with such satisfaction that he continued until 1855. Between 1855 and 1865, the record is not complete, but Ike Armstrong and a Dr. Munson are known to have served. In 1865 W. H. Scott was elected county superintendent, serving until 1873. He was followed by Henry Armstrong, 1873 to 1877, who also served 1882 to 1886, William Priestly having been elected 1877 to 1882. Fowler A. Armstrong be came superintendent, 1886 to 1890, and J. M. Reynolds suc ceeded him, 1890 to 1894. Robert T. Alexander was chosen 1894 to 1898 and Mr. Reynolds was again chosen, being the present Incumbent. The schools of Massac county have gradually and mater ially increased in efficiency. The last log school house has 6o History of long since been abandoned. The number of rural ungraded schools has gradually increased. The number of graded schools comprises Metropolis, Brooklyn and Gilliam. Metrop olis has one of the largest and best equipped high school buildings in Southern Illinois, a commodious high school for colored pupils, and an extra ward school for the whites. Eighteen instructors — four colored and fourteen white — - comprise the faculty. The course is so comprehensive and the instruction so efficient that graduates are admitted to the State University at Champaign without examination. Brooklyn has an elegant brick structure and a house for the colored pupils. Four white and one colored teacher is maintained. Gilliam has two grades. Seventy-five teachers are now busy ''wielding the birch" at monthly wages ranging from $25 to |110, and the amount of good they yearly accomplish cannot be estimated. Elegant frame and brick buildings have superceded the old log house. Modern windows, the hole in the wall and greased paper; comfortable hygienic seats with desks, the old puncheon seat made of half a sapling and peg legs, and the rough slab writing desk made on the side of the wall. Stoves and furnaces supply the place once held by the fire place long as the end of the school house; the paddle with the "A. B. Cs" the old Webster's Blue Back spelling book, and a conglomerat ed mixture of just any kind of text books have all passed away. Today we even ha^^e the same kind of books throughout the county and should have them under a "Free Text Book Law." Almost every school is now equipped with plenty of fine slate blackboards, maps, encyclopedias, dictionaries, charts, and many are adding circulating libraries — things unknown to our pioneer fathers. Districts are being made smaller, decreasing the distance children must travel and often a large bell calls the pupils together. Flags, pictures of national heroes, great statesmen, literati, and geniuses, with mottoes adorn the once uncouth walls. With due respect to the teachers of the past it is certainly true that our present teachers excel in breadth of learning and understand better the laws of pedagogy. More professional dignity characterizes the teacher of today. The old way of Massac County. 6i "studying out aloud" has been displaced by a quiet, commen surate with earnest study. Annual institutes with scholarly instructors are held "at home" each summer, college training is at our very doors and our schools not only do but should advance. For a child in Massac county to enter life today illit erate is a crime against humanity and the state. ASSESSORS AND TREASURERS. In the early history of the county Messrs. D. P. Hughey, Saybert G. Choat, A. B. Browne, S. H. Pfrlmmer, Jacob Gates and James Stone were Treasurers. James Robinson served until 1871 for a number of years and was succeeded in 1871 by Harmon Warneke. Samuel L. Wells was elected in 1873, and appointed to flll the unexpired term of C. N. Jones in 1881. John D. Craig was elected, 1877. E. Carmichael in 1879, and soon died. C. N. Jones was ap pointed to fill out the unexpired term and elected to another term, but later resigned. James H. Leech was elected in 1886 and Green W. Smith in 1890. George Verbarg was chosen in 1894 and Curt Roby, the present Incumbent, came into office in 1898. CORONERS. Travis Wethers held the first coroner's commission in Mas sac county. S. H. Pfrlmmer, Jacob Bumgarner, L. W. Willis, Benjamin J. Delavan, J. L. Copland, J. E. Roberts, J. W. Smith, H. Tucker and Jacob Mussulman appear on the early records. Many times justices of the peace did coroner's duty. In 1874 William Summers was elected, Thomas M. Patter son in 1878, E. B. Cropper in 1880, 1. V. Casey, 1888, Thomas L. Wallace in 1882, and is still coroner. Dr. A. C. Ragsdale is the Republican and Solomon Grace the Democratic candidates for Nov. 6, 1900. SURVEYORS. No record of surveyors is accessible until 1865, when W. 0. Crow's name appears. Since then appear the names of William Martin, 1871 to 1875; WilUam Johnson, 1875 to 1879; Thos. J. Hancock, 1879 to 1884; Thomas A. Giltner, 1884 to 62 History of 1892; and the present incumbent, W. Thomas Perkins. Sher idan Waters is the Republican candidate without opposition. MASTERS IN CHANCERY. This office is appointive and controlled by the presiding Circuit Judge. John B. Hicks was the first master. E. P. Curtis, while circuit clerk, was appointed in 1868 and held the ofiice continuously until the appointment of R. A. Davisson in 1896. Upon the death of Mr. Davisson, Lannes P. Oakes, the present master, was appointed. COUNTY BOARD. Not being under "Township Organization" the county board, or board of county commissioners, has always consist ed of three members. Each member serves three years and one is chosen each year. At the first election, S. G. Allen, Jonathan Moody and J. T. Collier were elected. Lots were cast and resulted in Moody one year. Collier two years, and Allen three years. In 1844 Moody was re-elected; 1845 Samuel Shirk succeeded Collier; 1846 Jacob Kidd succeeded Allen; 1847 Green B. Choat suc ceeded Moody; 1848 Thomas Harrington succeeded Shirk; 1849 Jacob Kidd was re-elected; 1850 three were elected, Messrs. John B. Hicks, William Emmerson and John Shirk; 1851 the same merabers served; 1852 Benajiah Thompson succeeded Em merson; 1853 Phineas Oakes succeeded Shirk; 1854 Elijah Smith, D. T. Walker and Thomas Dusouchet were elected; 1855 Thomas Stum succeeded Dusouchet; 1856 the same members served; 1857 Elijah Smith, William Armstrong and W. Mc Dowell were elected and served until 1861; 1861 J. S. Copland succeeded McDowell; 1862 Benjamin J. Delavan succeeded Smith, and Anson Gibbs succeeded Armstrong, which three served un til 1865; 1865 James Robinson succeeded Gibbs; 1866 Messrs. I>elavan, William Boyles and J. L. Todd were members; 1867 Richard Thompson was elected; 1869 Edward M. McMahon, Charles Staton and U. S. Morse were elected; 1873 George W. Young, H. Quante and Andrew Brady constituted the county board as it is today; 1874 Brady was re-elected; 1875 Young Massac County. 63 was re-elected; 1876 Burton Sexton; 1877 G. W. McCammon; 1878, T. R. Dugger; 1879 J. R. Jones; 1880 J. W. Heideman; 1881 Rl C. Barham; 1882 William Mountain; 1883 J. C. Willis; 1884 N. J. Slack; 1885 William Mountain; 1886, J. W. Guriey; 1887 John E. Staton; 1888 C. W. Teitloff; 1889,G. L. Gray; 1890 Thomas L. Morgan; 1891 William Mountain; 1892 W. D. Thompson; 1893 R. A. Adcox; 1894 Thos. R. Dugger; 1895 C. W. Brennen; 1896 Henry Arensman; 1897 J. 0. Willis; 1898 Louis MoUer; 1899 J. M. AUfrey; 1900 H. D. Fry is the Repub lican candidate without opposition. 64 History of CHAPTER vm. REMINISCENCES. (By Joshua Copland.) WAS born in Sumner county, Tennessee, Nov. 27th, 11812, settled three miles southwest of Vienna, Johnson county, 1816. Indians came to my lather's house on the old Wilkinsonvllle, Cape Girardeau and Kaskaskia trail. Wilkinsonville jM was the remains of a fort with no soldiers or ^^ houses. Graveyard hill stood near, an open fleld of sixty acres, was about one-half mile from the fort, which stood near the head of the upper dyke. In 1833, 1 moved near Sharp's Landing. Among the old settlers were John W. Read, Jacob Kidd, Robert McCormick, Ebenezer and Jessie Simpson, the Lairds, Hamilton Mitchell, Mr. Boyles, James Kincaid, Benajiah Thompson. Read lived at Belgrade. Hillerman was a village in 1835 named after L. D. Hiller man, a river man, who purchased it of William Parker, and the latter went to New Orleans. Hats were made there. Capt. Burt Sexton came to this county, 1837 and settled at Indian Point. Metropolis did not exist. There was Wilcox's ferryman's cabin. D. May's father lived flve miles out. Hardy Taylor lived under the bluff. Americus Smith lived four miles beyond New Colombia. In 1854 rain fell June llth, and no more fell until late in the fall. This was the "dry year." I delivered my corn at Copland's Ferry (Joppa) and got Massac County. 65 |!1.20 a bushel. Wheat was 75 cents to f 1.40 a bushel. Joppa had a store kept by Dick Venable for Sam Copland of Vienna. There were bear, wolf, elk, deer, panther, otter and beaver. Near Tucker's Mills in Lower Massac, was an elk-glade where an elk was killed in 1855, and a bear was killed by David Sherer at Indian Point. I remember John Renfro, a Methodist preacher; Stephen Renfro, a protestant Methodist; Hezekiah West and William Stanley, also Methodists; William Standard, Presbyterian, and Peter Cartwright, the great pioneer Methodist preacher, dedi cated the Methodist church at New Colombia. Numbers had the jerks, dancing mania, etc., at revivals in 1847, '48 and '49. Revs. Thomas Lopez, Jacob and Valentine Llngumfelter, Meth odists, conducted these meetings. Rev. George W. Hughey came later. William Humphreys, one mile from Hillerman, was called out of his house and killed in 1863. He was in good circum stances. Tracks showed three assassins; object robbery. J. R. Jones, keeping store at Fletcher's Landing, was also called, but Tils wife kept him in. STathan Evans, father of Attomey H. A. Evans, was hanged by three robbers the same night until he gave up $211. Nobody was arrested. Joseph P. Bowker was an early teacher in the "'50's." "Old Bethlehem." Methodist church and school house was used, built in 1845. Here in 1857 was fought a celebrated fist-flght between men on different sides of a debate. The decision was unsatisfactory. They fought until exhausted. No one was killed. I remember the old Cave Creek school house — a flve cornered log, with dirt 'floor, stick chimney and split-poplar benches for seats. The flrst teacher was Elder Champion Wil son of near New Colombia. James Elliott succeeded him. The first schools were subscription schools. ROBERT McCORMICK. Mr. McCormick was born in Davison county, Ky., Nov. 11, 1812. He moved to Illinois Jan. 1st, 1819. His father Wil liam, and mother, whose maiden name was Kezlah Bennett, ac companied by George McCormick, William's father, and John 5 66 History of McCormick, William's brother, and Alexander Douglas and their families, emigrated from Davison county, Tenn., in thai early day on a flat boat, down the Cumberland river. There was a little town where Smithland, Ky., stands, Joseph Daniels lived in a little log cabin where Paducah now is, and a family of negroes lived in a log cabin on the present site of Brooklyn, 111. They landed at the site of Brooklyn. His father's family were, father and mother and children, Rob ert, Edmund, and sister Jemina. The father, William Mc Cormick, died in 1822, and the mother later. (This was twenty- one years before the organization of Massac county.) Edmund died in January, 1835, and Jemina is dead. We moved near Unionville, Massac county, to a farm known as the Hamlet Ferguson farm, owned by a man of that name who lived at Hamlettsburg and it took his name. With my uncle I visited Fort Massac about the time we came here, 1819. An embankment and ditch enclosed about an acre and strong log cabins at intervals with gates between were built around the walls of the fort. I went into an empty underground room about sixteen feet square in the east end of the fort in 1822. No guns or implements of war were there and no trees inside the fort. My grandfather, George McCor mick cleared the land below the fort, cultivated it many times and died there in 1850. There was a cleared space of about flve acres around the fort, traversed with gravel walks. The fort buildings soon burned down. There were no full-blooded Indians in Massac county in 1819, although many could be seen at Paducah. Some men lived here who did nothing but hunt, among them John Simkins, who died near Bay City in the "'50's.'" John Bennett, my mother's brother, was also a hunter, but did other work. A saddle of venison, the half with the hind-quar ters, sold for three bits" (37^c.) Simkins often gave one deer to have another carried out of the woods for him. Wild tur keys were so abundant hunters never wasted ammunition on them but caught hundreds in turkey pens. Many men wore buckskin suits. Women wore such clothes as they made at home, with carding, spinning, weaving and Massac County. 67 -dyeing. The settlers tanned their own leather, made their own pegs, lasts and shoes. Some things were bought at Smith- land and a village was at Golconda. Mr. Loroth kept a mixed store and Dr. Sims lived there. Paths led from Fort Massac back Into the country. Scarce ly a wagon and no carriages were in the country. Sleds and wooden trucks were used to haul. Trucks had wheels sawed off a log. All houses were log, with puncheon floors. Some lumber was sawed for floors, lofts and doors with a whip-saw, on a scaffold about eight feet high, on which a log was placed. One man stood on the ground, the other on the log and could cut 100 feet a day. Reuben King or David Rossen built the flrst saw mill with water power on Seven Mile creek, at the Henly place. They also ground our corn. We raised no wheat. Before this we had to depend on horse power to grind our grain. It took a horse mill two hours to grind a bushel of corn. It was a rude contrivance. For motive power one or two horses were hitched to a long lever attached to an upright shaft in which were sev en or eight arms extending outward about ten feet. In these were holes bored for pins, and a band worked around these pins, which could be tightened by moving the pins. The band passed over a trundle-head, which tumed an iron shaft or spin dle on which was flxed the upper mill-stone. In this way our corn was ground. We also used a hand-mill, a tin grater and pounder. The pounder was made of a solid log four or flve feet high, sawed off square at the top and a flre built on the top- burning a hole to contain a peck of grain. Then a sweep was erected over it similar to the old well sweep. On the end of this sweep was made a wooden maul, to be pulled down upon the corn in the rude hopper by hand, the sweep raising it up each time until the corn was sufficiently pounded. The hand mill was made by flxing up a small stone upon a steady platform, four feet high. Upon this stone an upper stone was fltted and held in place by frame work. To this up per stone a handle was flxed, and the stone turned by hand. The mill was operated by the right and fed by the left hand. A frame work steadied the mill. The meal descended through 68 History of a miniature spout, and was sifted through a seive made of dried deer-skin, perforated. Biscuit were unknown. Com bread was rough. The first wheat I ever saw was in 1822 on my grandfather's — George McCormick's — lar-m, near where Unionville now stands. There were about three acres, cut with a reap hook, a curved knife with saw teeth. The grain was grasped in one hand and cut while held, the reaper being in half recumbent position, advancing in a zig-zag line. Only a few settlers lived here. Wesley Stubbs and fam ily lived near Unionville. John Stubbs killed a deer on Sun day and John Bennett and George McCormick remarked in Wesley Stubbs' presence that they saw the deer killed, where upon Wesley, being a justice of the peace, issued a warrant for his kinsman Stubbs for breaking the Sabbath laws. Ben nett and McCormick appeared as witnesses, but were forced to confess that they were also hunting, which accounted foi their being in the woods. Each was flned $3.00. Benjamin Tittsworth and family lived neighbors to Stubbs. Ebenezer Simpson, the leading citizen of the day, lived where New Liberty stood. John H. Smith and Reuben Smith lived near the mouth of ''Big Bay." Ebenezer Simpson was a shoemaker and married a "Weav er." Daniel McCawley put up the flrst horse mill in the coun ty in the Black Bottom. James Kincaid, a good man, was also a resident of the Black Bottom. Abijah ("Blge") Dyer, was the famous pioneer hunter and trapper. Solomon Lytton came soon after my father. His sons, Barnett and Solomon, are res idents of Massac county. Reuben King was a pioneer black smith and lived on the same farm where he died about flve miles northeast of Metropolis. John Dye's father, William, was King's neighbor, also Chester Hankins, and, a family named Fox, a relative of Lytton's. Wesley Stubbs, the justice, was a preacher, I think a Meth odist. No churches were in the county, and when any one was called to preach a meeting was held at a house selected for the occasion. John Lamar was an old pioneer reared by a family named Sisk. My sister, Jemina, married Elijah Smith in 1836, near Massac County. 69 where Brooklyn now is. I obtained the license in Golconda. They were the parents of Judge R. N. Smith. We had no school houses. My flrst teacher was a Mr. Has- kins, who taught near the site of New Liberty, 1825. Eli Fletcher, an Indian teacher, also taught in an early day. Num bers enlisted for the Black Hawk war, but saw no service. I remember Belgrade had two or three families of bad rep utation for counterfeiting. Henry Toulson bought them out. The Turners lived on what is now my farm, and they were counterfeiters. I was married to Elizabeth Hagar in 1836. Esquire Solo mon Lytton, Sr., performed the ceremony at my home on the Brooklyn road. I had bought so many marriage licenses of John Raum, the clerk of Pope county, that I told him when I got my own he ought to make a reduction and sure enough he did. By saving my pennies I have managed to do fairly well. Soon after my marriage a free-negro minister, Meth odist, came to the county. He was a better preacher than the Rey. Stubbs. HON. T B. HICKS' REMINISCENCES. My father moved to Metropolis, December, 1842, when there were probably a dozen houses, the most of them log. John H. Wilcox, who' owned and operated the ferry; Joseph Becker, Maurice Van, John W. Carmichael, a man named Booth, and a German named Benchi, lived here then. Benchl had three grown sons, James, Thomas and Andrew, and two grown daughters, ftachel and Jane. Benchi kept a small general store. Mr. Wilcox also kept a store in the old brick hotel, built in 1839, and destroyed by the water and storm, 1884. A Mr. Hudson and Mr. Tony also lived here. Metropolis was laid out as a city April 18, 1839. Paducah was then a small village. Two families lived at Belgrade, three miles above Metropolis on the Ohio river. The heads of both families were widows — Mesdames Rich and Gifford. The latter had two ol the prettiest "gals'' that ever flshed in the Ohio river. 70 History of There was not a two-horse wagon in the county. Ox teams did the hauling and the ox wagons could be heard to squeak two miles. Whatever was bought, no cash was considered in the transaction, but was to be paid in trade at trade rates. Au ordinary cow could be bought for $5.00 in trade and the best cow for $8.00 The best horse brought $40, while pork sold at 1 1-2 cents a pound. No wheat was raised. Corn was worth from 10 to 12 cents a bushel. Coffee could be had at 10 cents and" sugar was cheap. Eggs brought 3 cents a dozen and but ter 10 cents a pound. Domestics sold for 25 cents a yard, cal ico, 15 to 20 cents. Every house had its loom and every house wife manufactured what the family wore. The largest piece of open farm land contained less than thirty acres. Only one frame house was in the county and stood where Elliott's furni ture store now stands. Dr. Padgett was the first physician I remember. Drs. A. M. L. McBane and John Hanna came soon after. One of the flrst preachers of this county was D. Lopez, and he was one of the ablest pioneer preachers who ever occupied a pulpit. Thos. L. Garrett of Kentucky, an early Baptist min ister, father of the Garrett brothers of Paducah, preached one sermon in particular, I distinctly remember. Services were conducted in a frame building where the calaboose now stands. His text was, "Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The elder did full justice to the text. The first Methodist preacher I remember was a Rev. Covington. Massac County. 71 CHAPTER IX. MASSAC COUNTY BAR. MONG those who have practiced law at the bar of Massac county and were non-residents, appear several noted characters. Willis Allen lived at Benton and Marion. He was the flrst district attorney. Member of the lower house in the eleventh and of the senate in the fourteenth and flfteenth General Assemblies, and was in the thirty-second and thirty-third Con gresses. During Buchanan's administration he was United States district attorney and was also circuit judge. He was the father of the Hon. W. J. Allen. W. J. Allen, son of Willis Allen, enrolling and engrossing clerk seventeenth General Assembly, and a member of the house in the nineteenth. He served in the thirty-seventh and thirty eighth Congresses, was circuit judge, was John A. Lo gan's law partner, and became noted as a strong attorney in defense. He is a Federal Judge, located at Springfleld, Illi nois. SKETCH OF THOMAS G. C. DAVIS. The most distinguished looking man who has ever resided in Metropolis was Thomas G. C. Davis. He was about 5 feet 10 inches in height, with a long body and flnely developed neck and chest. He had a head and face like some of the handsom est of the Roman coins representing a Roman senator. He car ried with him a dignity well adapted to his personal appear ance. His name was Thomas Gustavus Caesar, but he had none of the vanity that sometimes attaches to the name, and never wrote his name in full. He emigrated in the year 1844, when 72 History of he was about 30 years of age, from Mississippi to Illinois. He came into the state with his wife and a small amount of bag gage in a buggy without a top. He crossed the river and set tled in Golconda. He was a man of remarkable powers of oratory. Only a few men in Illinois have been as highly en dowed in that respect as he was. He was a lawyer of ability and also a man of large literary attainments. His talents were soon appreciated. In 1846 he was elected to the state senate, defeating Andrew J. Kuykendall of Vienna. In March, 1847, he was elected a member of the constitutional convention. which met in Springfleld on the flrst Monday in June, 1847, and framed the constitution which was long known as the constitution of 1848, and which remained the constitution of Illinois for twenty-three years. In the meantime he had moved from Golconda to Metropolis and came to be known as the raost distinguished advocate in Southern Illinois. In 1850 he became a candidate for Congress. He was a Democrat and claimed that the political management of the district had drift ed into the infiuence of a clique and he refused to submit his claims to a convention. The Congressional district then ex tended from the mouth of Cache river on the Ohio to and in cluding Marion county on the north. He made a complete canvas of all the district. Great crowds went to hear him and followed him around. The writer heard one man say in speak ing of Davis: "No man can speak like he does without being endowed from on high." But he found the party machinery too strong for him and the regular nominee of the party was elected. Being a bolter from the regularly organized Demo cratic party he expected to receive the votes of all disaffected Democrats, and of all persons who could be lured or enticed by his oratory and by the entire vote of the Whig party, which was only a small party in Southern Illinois. But some of the Whigs refused to vote for him because he was an expansionist. The question of the propriety of our acquisition of territory from Mexico was discussed in all political meetings in those days. The Democrats were then all for expansion— both the members of the regularly organized Democratic party and also the bolters from that party. Davis was defeated for Congress Massac County. . 73 and then removed to Paducah. He afterwards removed to St. Louis and practiced law and died a few years ago in Texas. — Hon. W. H. Green. "WILL THE SHERIFF CALL MR, PFRIMMER?" It is related of him (Davis) that he was never at a loss to supply a missing link in the chain ol testimony wherein his client had a personal interest. There resided in the place (Me tropolis) a gentleman whose name waa S. H. Pfrlmmer, well known in that section as a good citizen, but a man who m.an- aged to know a great deal about other people's business, and by the way, a personal friend of Mr. Davis. On occasions when the missing link was needed, Mr. Davis would rise to his feet and cast a searching glance around the court room for his wit ness, and not seeing him, would vociferate, "Will the sheriff call Mr. Pfrlmmer?" The habit was so frequent that "Will the Sheriff call Mr. Pfrlmmer," became a by-word about the court room and Mr. Pfrlmmer was made the subject of many a pleas ant jest. — Lusk's Politics and Politicians of Illinois. William A. Denning was state's attorney for the district and became an associate justice of the supreme court. Benton was his home. S. S. Marshall was district attorney, lived at McLeansboro and served in the thirty-fourth, thirty-flfth, thirty- ninth, for tieth, forty-flrst, forty-second and forty-third Congresses. He is by many considered the greatest lawyer of his day in South em Illinois. W. K. Parrish, who was district attorney, succeeded Judge Denning on the bench. His home was Benton, but later at Du Quoin, where he died. John A. Logan, who lived at Murphysboro, Benton, Marion and Carbondale, was an early district attorney, practicing at the Massac county bar! His life's record is known to all. R. S. Nelson was one of the flrst resident attorneys, com ing from Mount Vernon, who later moved ta Centralla, and died of apoplexy while attending the Mount Vernon court. Benjamin J. Delavan was the flrst attorney admitted in Massac county. He was an early teacher, and became county 74 History of judge. He is the father of Mrs. R. G. B. McKee and Fannie Delavan, a teacher. John B. Hicks, flrst circuit clerk and master-in-chancery of Massac county, was a licensed attorney. Theodore B. Hicks, his son, was early trained for the legal profession and was a promising attorney. W. H. Green was a teacher, read law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced for a number of years as a resident attor ney of Massac county. Later he removed to Cairo, 111., where he yet resides, an active practitioner. Mr. Green was elected to the thlrty-flrst and thirty-second General Assemblies as a member of the lower house, and to the senate in the thirty- third and thirty-fourth. He was also circuit judge, and has been district attorney for the Illinois Central railroad for years. Today he has no peer at the bar of Southern Illinois. John C. Mulkey, born April 24, 1824, and yet living at Me tropolis, taught school at Benton, 111., studied law and was ad mitted to practice in Williamson county. He was a sergeant, and then lieutenant in the Mexican war. Later he was twice elected judge of the "Court of Common Pleas," of Cairo, then circuit judge, and resigned because it interfered with an ex tensive practice. His crowning honor was an election to the Supreme Court of Illinois, where his learned and wise decis ions prove his exceptional legal talent and attainments. Isaac Armstrong came to Metropolis from Ohio as a "cir cuit rider," and later practiced law. He was in many respects a brilliant fellow. Before his death he re-entered the ministry and died at Newton, Illinois. Hal. Armstrong, his son, who died here was also considered a brilliant young man. Jedediah Jack,'who came from Vienna, was an able lawyer. He defended Decatur Campbell. He was killed where the power house now stands, and lies in the Kidd graveyard. Richard Brown came from the South and in the civil war attempted to recruit for the Confederacy, but failed. He crossed the river and is said to have entered the rebel army. Thomas H. Smith came from Golconda and was a partner of W. H. Green. He was lieutenant colonel of the Forty-eighth Illinois Regiment. At the capture of Fort Donaldson he was Massac County. 75 killed. His memory is perpetuateH in the ''Tom Smith" post Grand Army of the Republic. He was noted for his bravery. G. W. Neeley also practiced here. In the civil war he be came Colonel Neeley of the 131st Regiment Illinois Volunteers. After the war he became district attorney and shortly died. Manning Mayfleld was licensed, but never practiced. A. M. L. McBane was also licensed, and is now a resident of Shaw neetown. Edward M. McMahan also entered the practice and be came county judge, dying here. W. J. Yost came from Alexander county and died here after years of practice. R. W. McCartney studied law in Metropolis, was admit ted to the bar, became county judge, state's attorney, member of the legislature, and circuit julge. His sketch is given else where. John W. Peter, son of Colonel R. A. Peter, was a practic ing attorney, and state's attorney. He is now in Washington State. Capt. John R. Thomas began the practice of law here, was state's attorney. Congressman for ten years, and is now a Unit ed States Federal Judge in the Indian Territory. Capt. J. F. McCartney came to Metropolis as principal teacher, when the city schools had three teachers. He was admitted to the bar here, founded the flrst Republican news paper, the "Promulgator," was district attorney, president of the First National Bank, and founder of the National State bank, of which he is president and which receives most of his attention. He has been a very active practitioner. Robert A. Davisson graduated from the Colombian Law school in Washington City, and practiced law in Metropolis from 1894 to 1897, when he died. He was also master-in- chancery. "Brim." Pillow, as he was called, Avas an early practitioner, captain of the "Regulators," a soldier in the Mexican war, and captain in the 120th Illinois. He later moved to Shawnee town, becoming a useful and leading citizen. Present bar — The flrms of Courtney & Helm, composed of 76 History of Messrs. J. C. Courtney and D. W. Helm; Sawyer & Evans, con sisting of George Sawyer, county judge, and H. A. Evans; those not in any flrms are Messrs. B. O. Jones, C. L. V. Mulkey, L. P. Oakes, F. R. Young, S. Bartlett Kerr and C. M. Fonts. Robert L. Nuckolls was until lately a member, but joined the Methodist conference and entered McKendree college with the ministry in view. This bar ranks with the best in Southern Illinois and comprises a genteel, dignifled group of men. DECATUR CAMPBELL CASE. Strange as it may seem, the ordinance of 1787 and subse quent efforts did not prevent slavery in Illinois. In 1840, the census showed 331 slaves. In 1850 slavery had become extinct except by indenture. Living in Massac county during the '50's was a negro named Decatur Campbell. One night several white men, among them Goodwin Parker, called at Campbell's cabin door, as they claimed, to inflict a good sound beating. Their reason for this was a difficulty between Campbell and Parker at a house raising a few days before in which Campbell struck Par ker with a spike. When addressed from without Campbell rushed out of the door and passed Parker, who later caught the negro. Others came up and it seems that in an effort to kill the negro some member of the party fatally stabbed Parker. Campbell was tried at the April term of the Massac county circuit court before Judge Parrish. John A. Logan was state's attomey. Jedediah Jack defended Campbell by appointment. The jury rendered a verdict of "guilty of manslaughter," and the judge flxed the sentence at eight years in the penitentiary. On a writ of error, the case was taken to the Supreme court and Judge Caton delivered the decision found in the six teenth volume of Illinois Reports, page 16. The Importance of the case lies in the following principles of law being deter mined thereby: 1. The right of self-defense against actual or apparently imminent danger. 2. Proof that one of several men are guilty — acquits all. Massac County. 77 3. The law makes no distinction as to color in a trial for murder. In each of these cases the court had erred and also in the exclusion of positive evidence that Parker had made positive threats of violence upon the body of Campbell, because they had not been delivered. The case was reversed. Campbell was released from the penitentiary and a change of venue taken on the rehearing to Pulaski county. The de fendant afterwards had the case returned to the Massac county circuit court. His counsel. Jack, died, the case nevei" again came to trial and later Campbell became a preacher. 78 History of CHAPTER X. REGULATORS AND FLATHEADS. JUDGE Wesley Sloan tells us in his reminiscences of Pope county, that about 1797 Cave-in-Rock was the rendezvous ol the Mason band of outlaws, who plundered flatbdats and murdered their crews. ^ In 1831 the Sturdevant gang of horse thieves, bur- •3^ glars, robbers and counterfeiters, who had built a fort in the upper end of the county, were attacked by the Regulators armed with small arms and one cannon. One Regulator and three outlaws were killed there. Most of the outlaws were cap tured, but never punished. In 1843, Henry Sides, who was appointed administrator of the estate of a Mr. Dabbs, was killed by the "Hlte Green" gang and robbed of $2,500 in silver. Money held in trust for free negroes, to whom Dabbs had not only given their freedom, but his property also. They served eight years in the penitentiary for this crime. When Massac county was organized in 1843, lawlessness existed more or less and even to a great degree handicapped the courts. Every newcomer was quietly informed to keep "hands off." Of the thirty-two cases on the flrst criminal docket most of them are Indictments for counterfeiting in one way or another, and one conviction only was made. Irrespective of political, affiliation the people divided into what were known as the Flatheads and Regulators, whose en mity grew more and more bitter until in 1844 or 1845, a battle was fought on what was known as Cheatem Lynn's farm, re sulting in the death of three men, Messrs. Davisson, Kennedy Massac County. 79 and Taylor. In 1846 another flght occurred, at the old brick hotel in Metropolis, 111., which had been built by Wilcox, and one man was wounded. Excitement ran high and 200 militia were sent. The legis lature created a special court to convene at Benton, with juris diction over the cases arising out of the trouble, which was finally brought to a close. This Is the saddest page of Massac county history and be cause of its Intricate social bearing upon our county's other wise "good name" we hope to be pardoned for these general statements in which we do not seek to revive an almost for gotten event, that it is better to cover with the cloak of charity and consign to oblivion's tomb. MOBS. During the civil war several horses were stolen and sold to government officers. James Dallam, who owned what is now the Mulkey farra, lost a horse, and J. T. Taylor recovered the ani mal of a government agent in Saline county, to whom the thief had sold it. William Hancock, the thief, was caught and hung to the limb of a hickory tree at the crossing of the Upper Golconda and Brooklyn roads about two miles frora Brooklyn. Two desperate characters named Bell and Purdy, stole some horses in Kentucky, killed a man and were forced across the Ohio river at Metropolis, swimming the stream on horse back. When in Metropolis they Immediately set about paint ing the town "red," as they claimed, flred promiscuously, drove the citizens off the streets, and flred through the window at Mr. Davis, the city marshal. Being informed of preparations to arrest them they fled into the country. About seven miles out they were caught and hanged to a post oak tree standing a lew years ago on the Gowan farm. 8o History of .CHAPTER XI. NEWSPAPERS. THE early newspaper adventures were neither profit able or permanent. A Mr. Wood, son-in-law of John B. Hicks, founded a pioneer paper, which was later succeeded by another, published by a druggist named Duncan. D. W. Lusk in the latter "50's" founded -The Sentinel," which from a regularly published jg^ sheet, dwindled into a semi-occasional newspaper under the editorial management of Edward Mc Mahon who purchased it, and went to war. Lusk went to Shawneetown and establish r;d The Mercury, thence to Pekin and later published his book, "Politics and Politicians of Illinois." In 1864 Henry Laughlin purchased ''The Sentinel" outfit, revived the paper for a short while, sold out and the office material was moved away. These were democratic. In August, 1865, Capt. J. F. McCartney came home from the war and found no newspaper. He paid $1,500 cash for au outfit at Mound City, brought it to Metropolis, founded the "Promulgator," a radical Republican organ, which succeeded from the first because of its outspoken sentiments. Becom ing district attorney he sold the office to Benjamin O. Jones in 1870, after five years' service. In 1872, A. J. Alden bought a half interest with Mr. Jones, introduced new printing ma terial, shipped other material to Mound City, and issued the "Pulaski Patriot." When Alden was admitted the name was changed to "Massac Journal" from "Promulgator." Alden sold his interest in the Pulaski Patriot to Jones in Massac County. 8i 1873 and also his interest in the Journal. Dr. Waggoner im mediately bought the "Patriot" and Jones continued in charge of the Journal, until he later sold an half interest to R. W. Mc Cartney, with whom Mr. Jones was reading law. R. A. Davisson and Walter Moreland, then a practical printer, took charge. Moreland later dropped out and Ed Melone in 1884 associated with Davisson. W. H. Hines suc ceeded them and in January, 1888, the firm became Hlnes & Starkes. In May, 1892, A. N. Starkes bought out Hlnes, and continued the publication of the Massac Journal as sole pro prietor until August, 1892, when it was consolidated with the Republican, and called the "Massac Journal-Republican," pub lished by A. N. Starkes & Co., com^posed of A. N. Starkes and P. H. Norris, the latter having purchased the Republican earlj in 1892 of D. R. Pryor, its founder, 1890. Mr. Norris retired in August, 1896, and sold his half in terest to Mr. Starkes, who sold the office later to the Journal Printing Company, April 17, 1897, O. J. Page, editor and man ager. In the fall of 1897 O. J. Page became sole proprietor and continued so until May, 1899, when G. C. Harner purchased an half Interest and Page & Harner conducted the business until August, 1900, when Page sold his half interest to W. H. Miller. The oflice is now conducted by the firm of Harner & Miller, Page having purchased the Leader, Marion, Williamson coun ty, 111. In 1867 W. J. Ward began the publication of "The Times," and in 1869 sold it to W. A. McBane, who increased its size from a four column lo a six column folio, all home print. Cap tain J. F. McCartney purchased "The Times" of McBane and changed the politics from Democratic to "Independent," edit ing the same seven years, when he sold it to A. K. Vickers, who removed the material to Vienna, 111., after publishing the same in Metropolis for some time. "The Vienna Times" is the legal successor. Hal. Armstrong, about 1877, began the publication of "The Democrat," but it failed to survive. J. D. Stewart & Co., with F. A. Trausdale, editor, began the publication of "The Metropo lis Democrat," 1878, continuing until 1892, when Mr. Stewart g2 History of retired, leaving Trausdale editor and publisher. In January, 1899, A. N. Starkes purchased "The Metropolis Democrat" of Mr. Trausdale and converted it into an independent paper. "The Herald." The newspapers have gradually increased in size and typ ographical neatness from small folios to six column quartos. Dailies have frequently been plunged upon the journalistic sea, but have been sunken by the winds of non-support. "The Evening Herald," a five-column folio, two sides patent, is be ing issued by the Herald Printing Co., and is in its second year. The Colored Baptist Church Society for several years maintained a church paper, "The Baptist Truth," under the editorial direction of Elder J. B. McCrary. It has since been moved to Cairo and Mr. McCrary now publishes and edits "The Metropolis Gazette," a weekly flve column quarto devoted to the Interests of the colored race, and republican in politics. In 1898, G. Lay Wolfe began the publication of "The Brooklyn Eagle," a six-column quarto at Brooklyn, Illinois. It was first Independent, but has since become Republican in politics. R. B. and T. B. Thompson published "The Weekly Review," and afterwards the "Egyptian Obelisk," a proposed literary journal for Southern Illinois, both of which suspended as various others have done. The latest newspaper venture is the six-column folio, Democratic paper, "The Metropolis Trib une," issued by ''Stewart & Mulkey," as the firm name, and composed of Messrs. S. M. Stewart and C. L. V. Mulkey. Massac County. 83 CHAPTER XII. SECRET ORDERS. HISTORY OF ODD FELLOWSHIP. (H. R. SMITH.) CHOSEN FRIENDS LODGE. This is the parent lodge of Odd Fellowship in Massac county. It has furnished charter members for all the other lodges, Rebeccas, and Encampments. A charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Illinois, Oct. 17th, 1851, to the following members for the pur pose of instituting a subordinate lodge of the In- ^Wj dependent Order of Odd Fellows, to be hailed and known as Chosen Friends Lodge No. 86, 1. O. O. F. namely: Messrs. Wm. Brown, Wm. Sheets, Wm. J. Allen, Wm. V McGee, Wm. Potts, Louis Jones and James Steel. William J. Allen was the flrst Noble Grand. All are now dead. In the forty-nine years of its existence the Lodge has in terred thirty-eight of its members at a cost of $2,979.00, and has paid 4,051 weekly sick beneflts at an average of $4.50 week ly, amounting to the munificent sum of $18,270.00. In addition widowed families have received over $1,000. The lodge is pros perous. Massac Lodge, Twenty years after the institution of Chosen Friends Lodge on the 10th day of October, 1871, the Grand Lodge of Illinois granted a charter for the Institution of subordinate Ipdge I, O. O. F., of Metropolis, to be known and 84 History of hailed as Massac Lodge No. 442. The following were charter members: J. L. Elliott, John A. Williams, Henry O. Derr, Thomas Brannon, Richard A. Austin, John H. McCartney, Da vid Snodgrass, Frank Fuller, John Austin and J. H. Ober- marck. R. H. Austin was the first Noble Grand. The lodge is in a flourishing condition. During the twenty-eight years of this lodge twenty-six members have been buried by it at a cost of $2,080, and 2,604 weekly sick beneflts have been paid, averaging $4.50 weekly, and reaching the grand total of $11,718.00. Over $800.00 ad ditional has been paid in special relief. Egypt Encampment. On Feb. 12th, 1867, the Egypt En campment No. 45, I. O. O. F. was instituted by the following charter members: Messrs. Tilman Roby, W. R. Brown, J. T. Rennie, Townsley Roby, Daniel Bowker, W. H. Green, John A. Brown, and Martin Craig. J. T. Rennie was the flrst Chief Patriarch. During the thirty-two years of its existence the En campment has paid 2,340 weekly beneflts at $2.00 a week, amounting to $4,680 with an additional $500 special relief sjient during that time. Welcome Rebecca Degree Lodge. This lodge was grant ed a charter, organized and instituted on the 13th of October, 1870, with twenty-four charter members, as follows: Messrs. T. S. Stone, J. M. Stone, John Lewis, T. J. Fuqua, T. L. Wal lace, J. D. Hedges, Edwin Coriis, Nathan Shick, E. Carmichael, I. V. Casey, George Musgroves and Robert Cole; Mesdames O. V. Stone, M. A. Lewis, N. J. Wallace, C. M. Craig, Sarah A. Coriis, J. E. Carmichael, Sarah V. Stone, Margaret Fuqua, L. Shick, Sarah Casey, E. Cole and also Alice Hodge. James M. Stone was the flrst Noble Grand. Welcome Rebecca Degree Lodge No. 28 is an adjunct of Chosen Friends Lodge I. 0. O. F. and aids materially in pro moting works of charity and social enjoyment. Within the past thirty jears the ladies have contributed over $300.00 in special ( haiiiable purposes, while they control the pecnli.ir features of their order. Metropolis Rebecca Degree Lodge. Twelve years after Welcome Lodge was organized a charter was obtained by cer- Massac County. 85 tain members ot that Lodge to institute the Metropolis Rebecca Degree Lodge No. 116 I. O. O. F. They are as follows: M. Diiikelspeel, J. W. Sands, Andrew Shoulders, C. E. Bess, J. L. Miller, H. R. Smith, W. D. James, John W. Rupecke, Leming Coriis, James H. Hood, C. L. Spencer, David Smith, J. M. Boi- court, Henry Shelton, J. M. Elliott; the ladles are Mary Sands, E. M. Shouldier, Georgia Bess, Elvira Miller, Josephine Sraith, Sallie B. James, Amanda Smith, Mary E. Daniel, Lizzie Shel ton, Annie E. Elliott and Dora Obermark. The flrst Noble Grand was H. R. Smith and Mrs. H. R. Smith is the only remaining charter member of the ladies' orig inal list yet a member, while H. R. Smith, David Smith and J. M. Boicourt are the only remaining male charter members now connected with the lodge. Like their sister lodge the Metrop olis Rebeccas have unostentatiously labored in connection with the Massac Lodge No. 442 in doing acts of charity, which can be attested by many families, particulariy, widows and orphans who have received $300.00 within eighteen years. In addition to the enormous amount of charity carried for ward by the various lodges it might be well to state that over $5,000.00 have been contributed by all the lodges to needy mem bers and their families, who were not entitled to sick benefits owing to arrearages in dues. The lodges of Massac county have twice entertained the celebration of the Inter-State Odd Fellows' Association, held annually on April 26th, and each time have won words of praise from their visiting brethren. JOPPA LODGE. (THOMAS R. ANDERSON.) Joppa Lodge No. 135. This lodge was organized Dec. 20, 1884, by the following charter members: W. E. Brown, G. W. Anderson, R. W. Hutchinson, J. H. Jones, of Massac Lodge No. 442; Thomas R. Anderson of Chosen Friends' Lodge No. 86; and R. A. Austin, J. H. Strawbridge, J. H. Johnson and W. R. Morgan of Hurricane Lodge No. 617. The lodge was Instituted in an attic over L. W. Copland's 86 History of store room in Joppa, 111., and met there for fifteen months, when everything burned with but small Insurance. Not dis couraged, they completed a commodious two-story hall in 1886 and sold the lower story to Fletcher & Sexton for a store room. In about two years this building burned, and a policy of $700.00 was paid in full within nine days. In connection with Messrs. Fletcher & Sexton another building was erected, which was also destroyed by fire April, 1894, with $500.00 Insurance. Permission was now granted by the Grand Lodge lio build an upper story on the Hillerman Baptist church, making one of the finest country lodge rooms in Southern Illinois. Here the lodge grew and prospered, initiating fully 125 members only three of whom have died, namely: Dr. Joseph Brown, A. J. Smith and W. S. Thompson. The membership is very small at present, numbering about one dozen. The lodge is worth fully $1,200. William N. Kelley is the present Noble Grand. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Smith was one of the early volunteers in defense of the Constitution during the Civil War. He was a practicing lawyer, noted for his bravery and patriot ism. At the capture of Fort Donaldson he fell in the honored uniform of Lieutenant Colonel of the Forty-eighth Illinois Reg iment of Volunteer Infantry. To perpetuate his memory and keep alive the sparks of patriotism the Tom Smith Post No. 345 Grand Army of the Republic was organized, Oct. 1, 1883, by G. S. Parks, a veteran, with sixty-three charter members. The first officers were Robert W. McCartney, now dead. Commander; E. P. Curtis, Senior Vice-Commander; Robert N. Leek, deceased. Junior Vice-Commander; Samuel Atwell, Ad jutant; John H. Morris, deceased. Surgeon; Charles P. Wilson, a Methodist minister, Chaplain; James A. Peter, O. D.; Charles Barfield, O. G.; E. B. Cropper, S. M., and J. A. Farrell, Q. M. In his memorial sermon, May 27th, 1900, Captain Samuel Atwell said: . Massac County. 87 "There have been 241 names enrolled on the Descriptive Book. Of that number flfty -two are known to have died; a number moved away and some others may have died; a num ber have been- dropped for non-payment of dues. I have not been able to flnd out from the Descriptive Book the exact number In good standing. Some have reached their four score years and must of necessity soon drop out of the ranks — in fact in a few years the post must cease to exist for want of members, for there is no recruiting station from which we can fill up the vacancies as they occur." At the Grand Encampment last week in August, 1900, the report shows over 7,000 who died in the last year. Thirty thou sand joined in the parade, four and one-half miles in length, and the record also shows a membership of about 305,000 vet erans at the present time, the noblest army on earth. No wonder General Joseph Wheeler told Hon. J. P. Dolliver that the ambition of his life was to die in the uniform of a soldier for the Union. MASONIC HISTORY. Metropolis boasts of one of the early lodges of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Illinois. The organization came together April 1, 1850, and Messrs. George Hawpe, Gabriel Kay, H. L. Cook, and several others became charter members. The charter was obtained Oct. 8, 1850. George Hawpe was the first W. M.; Gabriel Kay, S. W., and H. L. Cook, J. W. The lodge has also had the eminent distinction to have two of its members elected R. W. Grand Master of Illinois; Rev. W. H. Scott, 1880-1, and 1881-2; Hon. John R. Thomas, 1884-5 and 1885-6. The lodge today is in a prosperous condition and is known as Metropolis Lodge No. 91 A. F. and A. M. Metropolitan Chapter No. 101, Royal Arch Masons was char tered Oct. Sth, 1866. The charter members were Thomas Moore, W. S. Lane, C. H. Greenwood, T. E. Ward, J .L. Geb- liart, W. H. Scott, J. P. Choat, L. H. Simpson, Joseph Brown, J. C. Sheets, L. A. Lafont, J. W. Thrift, and Geo. W. Coriis. 88 History of The flrst officers were Thomas Moore, H. P.; W. S. Lane, K., and C. H. Greenwood, S. The chapter is flourishing. Thomas Moore attained distinction in Masonry in Arkansas, where he died this year at a ripe old age. Many of the others are also dead, or live in other places. Gethsemane Commandery No. 41 Knights Templar was organized under dispensation January 1, 1872, and is one of the few commanderies in Southern Illinois. Its charter was obtained Oct. 22, 1872. The charter members were Sir Knights Thomas Moore, William H. Scott, Jonathan C. Willis, Manning Mayfleld, Noah M. Farrin, Geo. W. Coriis, George F. Musgrove, Benjamin Ran kin, and Benjamin Howard. ^ Thomas Moore was the flrst E. C; J. C. Willis, Gen.; G. W. R. Coriis, Captain General. Of the charter members Captain Willis is the only living resident. Captain Benjamin Howard having died at his home in Metropolis this August, 1900. The commandery is in good condition. EASTERN STAR. September 26, 1886, Sarah Thrift, Maria J. Davis, Luella Coriis, Eva Craig, Fannie E. Willis, B. Howard, Aelra Stan- hauser, Kitty Brown, D. Baer, Eliza M. Lukens, Alice Flana gan, Amanda Greenwood, Lute A. Ward, Thomas Moore, E. Y. Conner and W. H. Stalcup secured a charter. The new lodge was hailed as Lilly of the Valley Chapter No. 85 Order of the Eastern Star and Maria J. Davis was ap pointed first Worthy Matron. Thomas Moore was the first Worthy Patron. Mrs. Elizabeth Cutting is the present Worthy Matron. The Chapter has always been recognized for its sociabil ity, growth and works of charity. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. No lodge excels the Orestes Lodge No. 268 Knights of Pythias for the character of the members. The charter was secured Oct. 20, 1892, by Messrs. Benjamin O. Jones, R. Lynn Massac County. 89 Minton, John H. Norris, Norman J. Slack, Ed Barbero, O. S. Morse, William H. Craig, Geo. A. Stewart, Wm. O. Towle, W. H. Kraper, Benedict Bender, Robert C. Barham, Heni;y Heid eman, Charles Hilgeman, B. P, D. Schroeder, Frank Adaras, E. N. McCartney, J. C. Courtney, Willis B. Ward, Edwin Coriis, Morris Dlnkelsplel, Frank C. Johns, Abram S. Bruner, .J. D. Barfield, W. A. McBane, E. T. Scott, John Gowan, Geo. D. Zettler, W. H. Hlnes, D. W. Helm, Ed. S. Hood, Herman E. Pergande, Fayette E. Hazen, J. M. Choat, William Wright, W. L. Bridwell, R. H. Austin, J. T. Cummins, W. H. Moreland, Fred Pfaus, Eb. Phillips, P. H. Norris, H. F. Kraper, John W. Rupeke, Robt. Nuckolls, and James E. Gowan. Most of these are yet living, residents of Metropolis, while to the number have been added many of our leading young men. The first Chancellor Commander was R. Lynn Minton. The present staff is composed of Ed Barbero, C. C; William €raig, V. C. ; William Seilbeck, P. ; Tilman R. Lovelace, M. W. ; Louis Quante, K. R. S.; R. B. D. Schroeder, M. F.; W. A. Fitch, M. E.; W. H. Arnold, M. A.; Thos. E. Craig, L G.; Gua v"as placed on the ground under the beds, and all was used for sleeping apartments. A large log was placed at the back of the camp hut — all camps fronted on the enclosed square — against which was built a flre for culinary purposes, and a long board table, supported by forks driven in the ground, at which all took their meals. Hospitality, in its widest sense, prevailed at these meetings, and no one needed to leave hungry, or fail to flnd a place in which to rest and sleep. Large assemblies have been provided for in this way. Inside the square, a pulpit was erected near one end, with high platform floor, boarded up at the back, roofed, and with a seat at the back, with a board in front, on which to lay the books, this — and the pulpit was completed. In front of the pulpit or "stand," as it was named, rows of logs were placed with one end toward the pulpit, and the other to the open side of the square, across which planks — or. in their absence, split logs — were placed for seats for the congrega- Massac County. 141 tion. All being prepared, about Thursday of the time agreed upon, those who Intended camping removed from their home to the ''camp ground," where they lived, usually until the next Tuesday or Wednesday, and sometimes longer. The whole en ergies of the campers were directed to supplying the necessities of those who were attending these meetings, and furthering the objects to be accomplished by them. Days and nights were spent in preaching, praying, exhorting and singing, which sometimes continued nearly all night. It was thought, at that time, that great good was effected by these meetings, but as there was necessarily some confusion attending those annual gatherings, some evil-minded persons took the liberty of abus ing the hospitality of the campers, and caused such disorder, that it was thought best to discontinue them. Their neces sity also ceased as the country became settled, and churches were built. Of the old time preachers, the prominent persons of the Baptist church have been mentioned. William Rondeau, the most prominent among them, came from England at an early day and settled near Golconda, where he resided for some years, and then he purchased the island just above Golconda, on which he had his home for the remainder of his life. He was an educated gentleman of the old school, and while he was affable and polite, he had a bluntness in his manner, that gave offense to some persons, unintentional on his part. He, like some other persons, had his eccentricities and pe culiarities, but was a good man, a warm-hearted, earnest min ister of the Gospel, and gave his views on the Scripture with plainness and force. He was an early settler in Pope county, deeply interested in the advancement of the moral, mental aud material interests of the people. He was scathing in his re proof of any misconduct at church. On one occasion he noticed some thoughtless persons whis pering during the sermon, and immediately stopped, saying: "If you have anything worth saying, speak out, that we may all hear it, and I will wait until you have done, as it is bad manners for two persons to speak at the same time, and be side this, Paul says, 'all whisperers are liars!' " 142 History of Mr. Rondeau had some humor in, his make-up, for example: One night, after a preaching service, he went with a brother minister named Hamilton for lodging. The wife of Mr. Hamil ton, not going home, the two old preachers had the house to themselves. After conversing awhile they thought they had better have a lunch before retiring. Mr. Hamilton on search ing, failed to flnd bread. He said : ''I know there was a 'pone' here, but I cannot find it." Mr. Rondeau answered, "Pone, Pone, Ponee, Pona, Pony. Pony is a little 'orse — I don't want to 'heat' an 'orse." He lived to good old age, and left a good influence behind him. Of the other Baptist ministers mentioned, they were all good men and did the best work for the community that they could, but none of them were liberally educated, and conse quently did not have the influence in moulding the young and growing country that Mr. Rondeau possessed. Of the ministers of the Presbyterian church in the early days of the country, there was but one who had much to do iu Influencing, for good, the pioneers. Perhaps this was from the fact that he was the only one who was here for a time, sufficient to accomplish much. This was the Rev. Ben jamin F. Spilman. He preached his flrst sermon here when quite a young man, and was the principal minister of that de nomination here for about fortj^ years. He was a native of Kentucky, was educated, and was an earnest and zealous preacher. He had an influence which has not been forgotten in the different flelds where he was called to the ministry. His discourses were logical, earnest, affectionate, and compelled his auditors to believe that he felt the truth of the principles which he urged upon them. He died at a ripe old age after a life of usefulness to his fellowmen. In the earlier days of his ministry he spent much of his time on horseback, as his appointments covered an extent of more than one hundred miles in diameter, and he has been known to go on horseback from Golconda to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to attend the sessions of the general assembly of his church. A gentleman who lived on the hill south of Gol- Massac County. 143 conda, who professed to believe that all preachers were lazy, and took to the ministry to avoid work, and whose residence overlooked the house of Mr. Spilman, saw that when he came home from a preaching tour, he pulled off his coat and went to work in the garden, and did other necessaiy work, remarked that he had "found one preacher who was not lazy." On the occasion of one of those horseback trips to Phila delphia, the then county surveyor, Geo. H. Hanna, wished to procure a new compass, and Philadelphia being at that time the only place where it could be purchased, Mr. Spilman bought the instrument there, and carried it on horseback to Go^lconda. Who would think for a moment of doing so now, or who would think of making the journey on horseback in these days of rail roads and steamboats? There were many other ministers of the Presbyterian church who labored in the county, but their stay here was so short that they failed to leave their impress on the growing community. Of the ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church there were a number who labored in this part of the country, among whom I will mention James Alexander, Jesse Pearce, William Davis, Benjamin Bruce and Woods M. Hamilton, who preached through this country, holding stated appointments somewhat after the manner of a circuit preacher, and also pro tracted and camp meetings in the late summer and autumn months. These ministers did not reside here, but in the coun ties of Gallatin and White. There was one exception, the Rev. Peter Cartwright, who traveled and preached over Southern Illinois and who some times visited the counties of Lower Egypt, and he is remembered more on account of his eccentricities than for any permanent influence which he left on the people of the country where he labored. It is principally to the local preachers in the M. E. church that we must look for an abiding influence on the pio neer population. Among them, notably, was Rev. James P. Crawford, who resided on Sugar creek, a few miles north from Dixon Springs. He settled there in the early thirties, and re mained there to the end of his life, which, unfortunately, was before he reached old age. While he lived he was noted for 144 History of his interest in any measure for the Improvement of the people of the whole country, and his interest was not manifested by words alone. His works were more abundant than were his words. The whole country around felt his loss when he was carried to God's acre. And when he fell, there was noi one iu that community who could take up the work which he left in an unflnished condition, an(J carry it on successfully as he had been doing. He was a good man in every respect, and was entitled to, and enjoyed the warm affection of all who knew him. Peace to his ashes. The flrst settlements in Pope county, with a few excep tions, were on or near the banks of the Ohio river. At or near the site of what was afterward Golconda, George V. Lusk, for whom Lusk's creek was named, and his wife Sarah, or Sallie, as she was called, for whom the town was flrst named Sarahs ville, were the flrst settlers. The date of coming cannot now be given. Thomas Ferguson was also one of the flrst to come to the place for a home in that wild region. He after ward became the owner of the laud on which the town of Gol conda was laid out, and donated twenty acres of land for a portion of the town. Green B. Field, the grandfather of Gen eral Green B. Raum, purchased the lands of Ferguson. Other pioneers here were Daniel Field, Dr. William Sim, Hugh Mc Nulty, Ransom Peters, William Rondeau, Thomas Laroth, Jos eph Pryor, James King, John Raum, Joshua Scott, William Belford, and Charles Dunn. A few miles above Golconda at or near the mouth of Grand Pierre creek, was a settlement of pioneers, extending into what is now Hardin county. John Crawford located there in 1808, at or near the same time Alex ander Blair, Samuel O. Melvania, James Sted and Hugh Rob ertson, with others who were but transient or were not prom inent in the community. The persons who are named were nearly all from the Emerald Isle. The settlement of the Lower Bay bottom was made in au early day by William Cowan, Robert Scott and Samuel Smith, who located there before 1817, and bought large bodies of gov ernment land. Their des was removed. Some shingles had Inadvertently been dropped into the dungeon, and the vile wretches had Improved the opportunity afforded to vent their spite on poor Nokes until he was unable to sit up for quite a time. The prisoners believing that taking the money was the gist of their crime, and that if it was recovered they would be prosecuted with less energy, told where it was concealed; but upon search it was not found. Green said that he could flnd It if given the opportunity. Accordingly he was taken out under a strong guard, a distance of ten or twelve miles, and he found the money, and was conducted back to jail, much to his disgust, as he thought that opportunity for his escape would be given. The time for holding court rolled round, and the prisoners heavily ironed, were placed in wagons, accompanied by about one hundred armed men, safely arrived at Vienna. It w.is expected that an attempt for rescue would be made on the Massac County. 165 route, a.s the way lay through that part of the county where the supposed friends of the prisoners lived — hence so strong a guard — but no demonstration was made. The trial was had, the prisoners were convicted and sen tenced to a term in the penitentiary, and the object of the Reg ulators being accomplished, they disbanded the organization, and their work for good or Hi, became a part of the history of the county. Four of the six convicts died during the term of their sentence, and two only, to-wit, Hite Green and William B. Hazel, returned. Hazel settled down and went to work for his living, and so far as known acted honestly and honorably, and to some extent retrieved his lost character. Not so Green, who had not reformed even outwardly, but was more cautious iu his actions than before he had experience of the power and will of the law and order loving people of Pope county. He lacked one more demonstration of the wishes and determina tion of the people, which demonstration he received in due time. We will follow up the history of the Regulators of Pope county with an episode, which has some relation to the time of the Regulators, both in the personnel, and the character of those times. Hiram — or Hlte — Green, after completion of his term in the state'e jmson, returned to his old haunts. His father had died in the meantime, as also his wife, an unmarried sister with his two children, lived in the old homestead. He only made the old home his headquarters, while the larger part ol his time was spent in other parts. At one time he and a '-pal" remained longer than waa usual at headquarters, and from their actions the people were satisfied that they were planning some evil scheme to be car ried out, or were in hiding for some crime already committed. They made no attempt to mingle with the citizens surrounding them, so far as known, spent their days and portions of thf night in the swamps adjacent to the creek, and a pa.rt of the night at the old home, for learning any news, and to tay in supplies. It was thought by some that to prevent crime waa 1 66 History of better than to punish it after it was done. A meeting was privately called at an out-of-the-way place to consider the mat ter. At the place appointed sixty or seventy persons met who lived near the place of rendezvous. On consulting together, some one announced that parties in Golconda had stated to him that if the two men were put into their hands they would see that they .should trouble the country no further. It was argued by some that the only thing to do was to capture the men and deliver them. There was in the assem blage a magistrate who told them "no." That if there was any one in the crowd who could file the necessary affidavit he would issue a warrant for .their arrest, and that they must proceed orderly, and according to law. A man came forward and truthfully filed the affidavit. A warrant was issued, and there being no constable convenient, the magistrate appointed a special constable, who immediately summoned the whole company to assist him in making the arrest. The company acting under orders, were divided into squads and their course indicated. The result was that the parties were found, run down and captured in a short time, were taken to town and no one caring to receive them, they were turned loose to go where they pleased. Green and the other were loud in their threats against all concerned in the matter, but especially against the party who had run them down and captured them. This continued until it was thought best to ignore it no longer. A private meeting was held for consultation at which the eight young men who had captured the two men were present, together with two or three men of age who were called iu to counsel them. After hearing the different opinions advanced, the old men asked them if they believed from their knowledge of the men that their lives were in danger, and that an oppor tunity would be sought to secretly kill them. On their answer ing in the affirmative, the old men gave them their opinion. "That if they — the old men — believed that these men would seek an opportunity to kill them secretly, they would Massac County. 167 not give them the opportunity, but would be beforehand with them." This meeting being held after night, the eight who had been threatened, repaired to the old Green homestead and se creted themselves within sixty yards of the house to wait for the appearance of the men sought for. Some time in the nighl they were seen to approach the house from the other side from where the ambush was laid. It had been agreed by the party that when the men sought for should be in gunshot, that all should bring their guns to bear upon the game, and wait until one who was designated, should fire his piece, then all should fire as quickly as possible. The one selected to fire was so chosen because his gun was sure fire. About one o'clock in the morning the moon rose, and about two o'clock the men left the house from the front and came within forty yards of the ambuscade, when the man with the sure fire gun, sighted his piece on Green and pulled trigger, when the cap bursted without discharging the gun. The two men sprang like hunted deer, while a rattling volley followed them, doing, however, no damage, so far as known. Before sunrise the two men were at the Brooklyn ferry, without coats or hats and very anxious to cross the river. They were detained, however, until a runner was sent to know if they were wanted. The reply was to set them across the river. Since that time if Green has been back in his old haunts it has been secretly. Nothing certain is known of him since, but it was reported that during the war he headed a band of guerillas, and was killed during some of his predatory excur sions. From the known character of the man Green, the re port was deemed to be true. This statement is now for the first time given to the public, the more freely that all of those who actively participated in the matter have passed to that bourne from whence no trav eler has ever returned. And, perhaps, there is but one person living who was cognizant of all the facts as they occurred. Some time in the early forties, a free colored mauj who was known by the name of Elijah, settled about two miles 1 68 History of from Golconda with a family of four children, aged from ten years upward, and lived a quiet, peaceable life, and won the respect of his white neighbors, so far as colored men received the respect of whites in those days. Some time in the year 1843, a raid was made in the night upon Elijah and his children were carried off by parties who were unknown. The alarm was given by the father before light, and such endeavors were made to trace them up by the neighbors as were thought necessary, but without the least success. The kidnappers had covered their tracks pretty ef fectually. Certain parties were arrested on suspicion, and witnesses were examined who were supposed to have knowl edge of the matter, but without avail. The witnesses dis dained any knowledge of the matter, and as a result the pris oners were released. It now appeared that the guilty parties AVOuld escape punishment due them for their crime. Some ef forts were quietly made by certain parties to find the abducted children and restore them to their father. It was evident that there could be but one object in -view by the kidnappers, and this limited the search to the slave-holding states. After a time such information was received that led to the conclusion that the children were on the farm of a Mr. Dorsey in the state of Mississippi. Mr. William Rhodes, who was then the sheriff of the county, accompanied by Elijah, went to see them and if the information proved true, to recover them and bring them home if possible. On reaching the farm of Mr. Dorsey they Informed him frankly of their business, and Inquired if he had about that time purchased such children as were described to him. He admitted the purchase of such children, and thought that he had a good title to them, having purchased in good faith, but that if he was deceived, he would upon sufficient proof give up the property. In answer to inquii-y he stated that the children were at that time out on the farm, hoeing cotton. Mr. Rhodes then made him this proposition: They three would walk out through the field near where the children were working, and if they were the children of Elijah, he, Rhodes, thought that Massac County. 169 they would recognize him, and they would certainly know their father. And if such recognition did not occur, he should lay no claim to them, but should they know them, Mr. Dorsey should surrender them to their father. This proposition was accepted, and the three persons went out to the farm where the children were engaged at wofk. They Avalked slowly, pausing here and there, as though exam ining the growing crop, and went so as to pass near the chil dren without going directly to them. While yet at some dis tance from the children, they could see that they were observ ing them, and when they were nearer — Elijah being in the rear — one of the children called out, "La! yonder comes Mr. Rhodes, yes and papa, too!" And dropping their hoes, the children came running to them at their utmost speed. Mr. Dorsey said that he was sat isfied, and would not contend against the evidence so brought before him, but that the old man should have his children re stored to him, which was done, and Mr. Rhodes returned home with his charge, the father and children. Mr. Dorsey having shown Rhodes his title to the "proper ty," he found that he had a bill of sale for the children, accord ing to the laws of Mississippi, "in such cases made and pro vided," which was signed by William H. Vaughn, who was known to Rhodes, and was at that time a resident of Pope county. This Vaughn was a man who bought the tract of land on th^ Ohio, at the mouth of Big Bay creek, known as Bayfield. He was a man of considerable means, and nothing was known of his antecedents, but from his constant watchfulness, and his "armed occupation," coupled with his entire silence in re gard to his previous life and place of residence, he was thought to have been a member of some of those bands of pirates who had infested the Gulf coast some years before. He kept a sa loon sometimes at Bayfield, and for a time at Golconda. While at Bayfield he was often visited by men who, so far as his neighbors knew, had no business relations with him, and who were entirely unknown, but who would come and go at 170 History OF irregular intervals, which perhaps gave rise in part, to the suspicions in regard to his former life. He also had a gun in his possession, which was of a kind unknown to the citizens around him. This gun was one and a half to two inches in the bore, the barrel was about three feet in length, and there was an extra trigger underneath, and upon pulling it, a long dagger or spear, wonld fly out and stand flxed from the muzzle of the gun like a bayonet. Vaughn would only say of it, that he "would not like to be where it had been." On lying down to sleep, he laid two pistols on a table near his bed, and kept a rifle and shot gun in reach where he lay. Such was Wm. H. Vaughn. At the May, 1844, term of the Pope circuit court, the grand jury called this Vaughn be fore them to state from whom he procured the children whom he had sold to Dorsey. He hesitated, and after admitting that he knew the parties, declined to testify. On being brou.ght before the court, and the court having plainly pointed out to him the consequences of a persistent refusal to answer the question, he stated that he feared to make the parties known. He was assured by the court of protection. He said that he did not fear personal violence, as that he could meet, but that he had a "reputation" — God save the mark — which would be assailed, and in that regard the court could give him no ade quate protection. Of course the court could not entertain his plea for a mo ment, and he was returned to the grand jury room, where after reflecting for a time he announced his willingness to answer such questions as the jury should ask him. He stated to the jury that he receiAed the children on a bill of sale, and that they were delivered to him by Joshua Handly, Peyton Gor don, Caleb Slankard and John Simplrins of Pope county, and Joe Lynn and Hiram Campbell of Massac county. The par ties were indicted, warrants were Issued for the arrest of the parties, and delivered to the sheriff in the afternoon, and be fore daylight the next morning Handly and Gordon were lodged in jail, Slankard was brought in early in the day, and Massac County. 171 Simpklns at a later hour. Lynn and Campbell came in volun tarily with their bail, and were not committed to jail. Within ten days after this William H. Vaughn was dead, and every one on being informed of his death, asked who killed him. His death was caused by apoplexy, and there being no other witness against the prisoners, they were discharged from cus tody. HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY, ILLINOIS WITH LIFE SKETCHES AND PORTRAITS. By O.J. PAGE, Editor "Journal Republican." Member Forty-First General Assembly. IN TWO PARTS. PART II.— LIFE Sketches and Portraits. HON.tCHARLES P. SKAGGS. METROPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. (See page 132). Massac County. -175 PART II. METROPOLIS PRECINCT— ^Formed 1843.) ROBERT WILSON McCARTNEY (Deceased). Eobert Wilson McCartney, descended from John McCart ney and wife, nee Jean Brown, both Scotch people who emi grated to the "Westem Reserve" in 1838 or '9. He was born near Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, March 19, 1843. At six his parents took him to Eastbrook, Pa., where his mother died in his tenth year after which the family moved to Youngs town, Ohio, where Robert worked steadily in the Woolen mills until the war broke out. In youth he attended the public schools. After the war he graduated at Duff's Business Col lege, Pittsburg, attended a course of law lectures at Cleveland, came to Illinois and was admitted to the bar in 1868. At eighteen, ho enlisted as a private. Sixth Ohio Cavalry, was aide to General Sickles at Gettysburg and was almost fatally w-ounded in the shoulder as he carried orders to Gen eral Ellis. For two days and nights he lay helpless on that historic fleld when h(; was discovered and carried to the hos pital at Harrisburg. I'artially recovered, he was assigned to clerical duty for the provost marshal. When suificiently re covered he was coramissioned Captain of Company I, Eighty- third A'olujrteer Infantry, and sent at once to join the ariny of the Potomac. Passing through the hard fought battles of this campaign and witnessing Lee's surrender, he took part in the "Grand Review'' to be later mustered out at Harrisburg, 176 History of Pa. Entering his country's service a vigorous youth he sac rificed his physical manhood upon its altar. In the events of his life among us, we are more interested. Coming to Metropolis, he associated with his brother, Captain J. F. McCartney in the publication of "The Promulgator" — ^the legal progenitor of the Journal Republican, and was also his law partner. He was also associated with William Towle in operating the enormous Towle Saw Mills, later selling out to Mr. Towle that he might practice law, which was more con genial to his taste. An elegant brick residence, and the commodious Julian Hotel were built by him. The one ambition of his life was to erect a modern brick Music Hall containing a library and read ing room. In this laudable design he succeeded before his death and left in his will a provision stipulating that the rooms should not only be perpetually used for public reading and library rooms, but also made |100 payable to the library trus tees upon settlement of his estate, which provision his estima ble wife has seen fulfilled. The library, organized first as an association, was named the R. W. McCartney Library, and later passed under the control and support of the city. He was a moving spirit in the organization and operation of the First National Bank of Metropolis, later becoming its presi dent. Politically, Mr. McCartney was a staunch Republican and attained eminent success. Elected city attorney, he was pro moted to county judge in 1873, serving for nine years; in 1882. he was a member of the General Assembly, and in 1885 his party elected him circuit judge. He served wdth distinction, and could have been re-elected but for falling health and ex tensive business interests. In his social life he was a respect ed member of the Grand Army, an honored Odd Fellow and a loyal Mason. In religion, he affiliated with the Methodists, for years a trustee of that influential body. All the fraternal bodies participated in his funeral. Judge McCartney married Miss Mary, daughter of Profes sor Priestly, Sept. 8, 1868, and to them were bom two sons — Massac County. 177 William Priestly and John — the latter dying in infancy. Oc tober 18, 1871, Mrs. McCartney died, and March 19, 1873, he was married to Miss Julia Scofield, the amiable daughter of Rev. Scofleld, an eminent Presbyterian minister. Fi'om this union Robert W. and Jean Elizabeth were born, the former dying while young. Miss Jean, born March 6, 1878, graduated from the Metropolis High School as A'aledictorian of the class of '94, received her diploma from the famous Western Female Seminary, Oxford, Ohio, June, '98, and entered Chicago Uni versity to take a classical course. Unfortunately by a fall, precipitating fatal complications, her young, brilliant and promising life was ended in Chicago Feb. 17, 1899. In one more year she would have returned home with honors from the great university, but instead tender, loving and sympa thizing hands placed her to rest beside her father. Over their graves the widow has lately erected the flnest monumnt in Massac county. She quietly resides in the family home in Metropolis, carrying out the wishes and revering the memory of her esteemed husband and lamented daughter and doing what she can to advance the interests of the community. SAMUEL ATWELL, County Clerk. Captain Samuel Atwell's grandfather was a native of Maryland, early moved to North Carolina, thence to Barren county, Ky., and engaged in farming. Thomas Atwell, the father, was born in Maryland, Jan. 24, 1789, reared in Ken tucky, and married Nancy Harlow. She was born in Ken tucky, 1800, descended from Revolutionary ancestors, and died in Massac county, August, 1851, leaving ten children. Thomas Atwell and wife moved to Harrison county, Ind., 1832, landed at Brooklyn, 111., in a flat boat March 1, 1849, and farmed near that place until his death Aug. 18, 1862. Samuel Atwell, his son, was born December, 1834, in Har rison county, Ind., attended the primitive schools, taught school, 1855 to '59, and at eighteen was converted in the Reg- 12 178 History of ular Baptist church. He spent '59 and '60 in Shurtleff Col lege, Alton, 111., began preaching in '61 and enlisted, the same year, a private in Company A, 56th Illinois Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant in '62, and made captain the same year. Corinth, Vicksburg, Missionai-j' Ridge, Atlanta, Savannah and Bentonville were flelds of his active service. From Chatta nooga to Atlanta his regiment was rear guard. He saw Col umbia burn, was in the grand review and retired commissioned Major in '65. He was discharged at Little Rock, Aug. 12, 1865, and returned to the walks of peace with honor. His impaired health necessitated the open air of the farm during the lattei' part of '65 and the spring of '66. In the spring of '66 he sold his farm near Brooklyn, moved to that place and resided there until the spring of '67, when he moved to Metropolis to assume the duties of sheriff, to which he had been elected. In 1869 he was elected county clerk, serving two terms at the close of which, impaired health forced him to spend two months in Oregon and two years in Auburn, Cal., where he purchased a home. Disposing of his home he re turned to Metropolis in 1881 to be elected county clerk for the third timf; in 1882, which office he has held continuously ever since, with perhaps the longest record of any county clerk in Illinois. Most of the time he has had no opposition for his party nomination and no opposition in the general election. He has always been a staunch Republican and a minister of the Baptist church, standing high in the councils of that large and influential body. October 19, 1865, he was married to Miss Josephine Pell, who was born in Roseclare, Hardin county, Illinois. She was the daughter of Mitchell and Lethe (Badger) Pell. Six chil dren have been born to them of whom three are living, George P., Lethe and William; three are dead, as follows: Samuel, died 1875; Lillian, wife of F. A. Gregory, Jan. 9, 1896, and Olive, wife of Fred Pfaus, Nov. 1, 1897. The Captain and Mrs. Atwell reside in their pleasant home in Metropolis, respected by all. SAMUEL ATWELL. Massac County. i»i k w \ ^H&.^^ ,^H ^ ^ HON. D. W. HELM, State's Attorney. Douglas W. Helm was born in Grantsburg Towuship, Johnson county. III., July 23, 1860, the son of Robert A. and Mary J. Helm. The Helm family landed at Pljmouth Rock, drifted to Virginia, thence to Georgia, from there to Tennessee, and then successively to Kentucky and Illinois. Thomas, the brother of Robert, accompanied his father from Tennessee on several visits with the Kentucky branch of the family before he earner to Illinois. Prominence has been attained by members of the family. Captain Thomas Helm, great grandfather of Robert A. Helm, was slain at Guilford Court House during the Revolution; Captain Cowden, the maternal great grandfather of Robert A Helm, was killed in a cavalry charge during the Revolution; Thomas Helm is called the pioneer of Elizabethtown, and is the head of the Kentucky branch to which John L. Helm be longed, and who was governor of Kentucky; Captain Leonard Helm wafj the trusted lieutenant of Colonel Clark on his fa mous expedition to Kaskaskia, and was at the Fort Dearborn massacre. 1 82 History of Mrs. Robert A. Helm was Miss Mary J. Rice, born in Tennessee, near Nashville. With her parents she came to Johnson county about 1840. Douglas W. Helm attended the common schools, a sum mer normal at Vienna, III., one year at the Southem Illinois Normal University, Carbondale; graduated in the Bloomington Law School, 1883, and stood flrst in the Junior and fourth in the Senior w ork. He taught several terms and was admitted to the bar in 1883, forming a partnership with J. C. Courtney, his preceptor, April, 1884. He has been twice elected city attomey, three times state's attorney of Massac county, and was appointed trustee of the Southern Illinois Normal University by Governor J. R. Tan ner, which commission he now holds. April 13, 1884, he and Miss Mary, daughter of Henry C. Howell of Johnson county, were married. Their family is composed of Roy R., born Sept. 25, 1886; Lloyd L., born Sept 27, 1890; Herbert, born Aug. 13th, 1894. Fraternally, Mr. Helm has served as Noble Grand of Mas sac Lodge No. 442, 1. O. O. F.; Chancellor Commander of Ores tes Lodge No. 268, K. P.; Worshipful Master of Metropolis Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M. ; and Generalissimo of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41, Knights Templar. He has many friends and his future is bright. Politically he is intensely Republi can. JOHN W. EVERS, Sheriff. John A. Evers, the father, was of Pennsylvania, moved to Kentucky, taught school, farmed, bought fully 500 acres near Boaz Station, sold the same and came to Massac, 1858, bought the Barfield farm, and died October, 1868. Miss Cynthia Brookshire was of North Carolina, moved to Kentucky, eloped on horseback with John A. Evers to Captain Williamson's, Massac county, and was married, but returned to Graves coun ty, Kentucky. She died Sept. 30th, 1865. Eleven children, three boys and eight girls, were born, JOHN W. EVERS AND FAMILY, Massac County. 185 John W., being the tenth, and all reached maturity. Our sub ject was born Dec. 3, 1848 in Graves county, Ky., attended the common schools, enlisted, 1863 in Fifty-eighth Illinois, but father claimed him, and enlisted in August, 1864, Company C, First Kentucky Cavalrj', being mustered out March 20, 1865. He retumed home, gave his father the money and labored on the farm till his father died, and a single sister could be educated to teach. He went west and for two years was a "cowboy." Returning home he hauled the lumber with an ox- team to build the first house in New Grand Chain, 111. He also clerked for J. W. Gaunt of that place and for him was overseer of the construction force, building the "Big Four" Railroad near there. On July 5, 1874, he married Miss Quinnie E., daughter of Robert Jett. She was born March 8, 1858, near Woodville, Ky. His health falling, they moved on the farm purchased by Mr. Evers, and he sold it to Dr. H. Y. Mangum, went to Woodville, Ky., raised two large tobacco crops, moved to Fay etteville, Ark., opened a grocery and queensware store, sold out and clerked for purchaser until he went to Eureka Springs. Ark. Here he built the first hotel, "The Mountain House," and prospered. He went to Scligman, Mo., and opened the "Trim House." From here he went to Carthage, Mo., and 1883 he came to Metropolis, but soon returned to Missouri. The next year he located in Metropolis, teaming for seven years. Mayor Rankin appointed him marshal of Metropolis, 1 886, and he was elected constable. R. C. Barham, sheriff of Massac county, appointed him deputy, and Green W. Smith, Barham's successor, retained him for his efficiency. In 1898 the Repub licans nominated and elected him sheriff, which office he now holds, administering its functions with competency, and sat isfaction to the public. He is a Methodist and a Mason. Four children compose their family, three girls: Mrs. Myr tle Davis, wife of Albert Davis, born Sept. 13, 1876, McCracken county, Ky.; Carrie, born April, 1878, and deceased; Robbie, born March 8, 1880, Fayetteville, Ark.; one son, Morris Jett, bom Dec. 20, 1895, Metropolis, 111., aud a favorite with the father. 1 86 History of COLFAX MORRIS, CiRcurT clerk. Colfax Morris, circuit clerk of Massac county, was bora in this county, April 16, 1866, and attended the common schools, spending his early life on the farm. His father, James H. Morris, Sr., is a native of Kentucky, born in Livingston county, March 11, 1824. His grandfather was a friend of Daniel Boone during the "dark and bloody days," and the family came to what is now Massac county in 1833. June the Sth, 1843, his father married Miss Lucinda Little, a native of Massac county, born Jan. 22, 1825, and both parents are yet living in Metropolis. On the 1st day of August, 1888, Mr. Morris married Miss Fannie R. Oakes, daughter of John W. Oakes, a leading far mer of the county. She was born April 24, 1871. They have two children living — Leonard Seward and Cleo — two bright children, full of sunshine for the home. As a member of the state militia, Mr. Morris was also a member of the "Illinois Rifie Team," which annually contest ed on the rifle range with the "crack teams" of four other states for the medal to be given for the highest average score. Illinois always won and Mi-. Morris always excelled. In a two- days' shoot at Fort Sheridan, he easily won the Chicago Her ald's $100 medal over every competitor from the militia and regulars. Of this medal he is very proud. Always a Republican and active, he has wielded his influ ence, and was appointed deputy circuit clerk by Captain S. B. Kerr in 1892. Although young, he learned to readily do the work rapidly and efficiently, so that he was elected clerk in 1896. Under his administration the office for the first time in its Mstory, is not only paying its way, but i*eturning a hand some balance into the county treasury. He has made an ex cellent official and his friends are many. March 17th, 1900, he was renominated without opposition and elected by an in creased majority, Nov. 6, 1900. COLFAX MORRIS. MRS. COLFAX MORRIS. Massac County. 189 JOSHUA M. REYNOLDS, iCouNTY Superintendent, Mr. Reynolds was bom in Massac county, April 1, 1856. His father, John Reynolds, came from Virginia, and his moth er, Annie Yates, was an Ohioan. They were married after meeting in Massac county and their lives were spent on a farm in Washington precinct. Joshua attended the common schools, in youth, labored on the farm and spent two years in the log camp in Perry county, Tenn. He attended the National Normal University, Leba non, Ohio, in 1878, and began teaching, conducting his two first schools in Union county, since which time he has been inti raately associated with the educational interests of his native county. In 1890 the Republican party nominated and elected him county superintendent and re-elected him in 1898. He is now conscientiously and ably performing the duties of his office. Miss Mary C. Noble, daughter of William and Sarah Noble, became his wife April 20, 1879. They have flve bright 190 History of boys, William J., Orval J., Harold, Rohama L., and Leonard Earle; one sweet girl, Cornelia Alma, also has blessed their union. Mr. Reynolds and wife are both members of the Bap tist church and model citizens. JUDGE GEORGE SAWYER. Amos Sawyer, George's grandfather, was Irish, born in England. He emigrated to New Hampshire, where William Sawyer, father of George, was born, 1827. He came to Illinois while young and learned the blacksmith trade. He enlisted in the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, Company G, in 1861, did good service, and was discharged on account of disability contracted in line of duty, 1862, returned home, entered business and ac cumulated a competency. He married Theodosia Monroe of Pope county, who was a Virginian of Irish blood. They had but one child, George, born in Metropolis, Sept. 1, 1861, bear ing the strong personality of his mother. January, 1864, Mr. Sawyer died, leaving the widow and son with plenty, which was all lost through a faulty title, leaving them penniless. December 18th, 1865, his mother died. Por three months' labor during his ninth year he received $8.20; during the tenth year he earned $9.00 and labored six successive years for Mr. Woolbridge. Ten months in the com mon schools and three months at the Metropolis Seminary covers his actual attendance on school. During spare moments he read grammar, logic, and moral science in the fleld. He walked flve miles to borrow a histoi*y of Rome. At nineteen he began teaching, which he continued for four terms. From 1884 to 1890 he read law as opportunity afforded, being ad mitted in the latter year. The judge gave him his flrst case — the defense of a man indicted for burglary, who was acquitted. Today he ranks with the best lawyers. He was married to Lydia Barham Jan. 31, 1892, who is the daughter of ex-Sheriff R. C. Barham, born Dec. 24, 1871. To them was born one son, Robert James, Nov. 14, 1892, who GEORGE SAWYER. MRS. GEORGE SAWYER. Massac County. 193 died Jan. 5, 1894. They own an elegant cottage home on Sixth street. Judge Sawyer was elected city attorney of Metropolis, 1891, and 1893, compiled and supervised the publication of the city ordinances. In 1894 he was elected county judge and re elected without opposition. He loves the bench and a mer ited promotion awaits him. Republicanism is his creed and he ably defends it in each campaign. PROF. WILLIAM M. PRIESTLY. Prof. Wm. M. Priestly, "the father of the public schools of Massac county," was born in New Jersey, 1816, apprenticed for a term to a coachmaker of Philadelphia, who early diS' covered the lad's eagemess for mathematics and elocutionary talent, and sent him to a night school and added a half day at free school. At twenty he had mastered his trade and also bookkeeping, being called to manage his uncle's extensive wholesale cotton and merchandise establishment In Missis sippi. Later a partner, he was stationed at an Indian reservation in Mississippi, leamed their dialects and was Induced to mas ter Latin, which he did without assistance. In 1839, he mar ried Mary Virginia Walker, favorite niece of Gen. Winfield T. Scott. Revolting at the foulness of slavery, accompanied by his father-in-law, David Walker, moved to "Egypt," and settled in Massac county — Walker settling in Johnson county. After one year he removed to Johnson county, 1854, built the court house and several other buildings still standing in Vienna. In 1865 he was chosen superintendent of the Metropolis dty schools, serving until 1870; was postmaster until 1874, and was elected county superintendent of Massac county for several terms, virtually founding the public schools, and de veloping such wonderful talent that his annual institutes drew educators from distant counties, and left an impress upon our 13 194 History of school system never to be erased. Not only a leader of teach ers, he was a thorough master of the profession. He was master of the art of reading, and the mother tongue; fair-minded, kind-hearted and flrm. He was a perfect disciplinarian, who won by the rule of duty and honor and im pressed both pupil and parent, that he was their friend, and his school a workshop for "now" and "eternity." He was an earnest Methodist and an honored and exalted Mason. In 1887, his health falling, he moved to Lane county, Kan., dying Oct. 18, 1895, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Cur tis, Trigo county, Kan. Many of onr citizens cherish his mem ory, and "to know him was to count a friend." ROBERT GREEN B. McKEE. In the wilds of Johnson county, amid the redmen, the parents of Robert Green B. McKee settled in an early day. Here their son was born Jan. 22, 1819, twenty-three years before Massac county was formed. The lad farmed and attended subscription schools, early developed a business talent, worked on a flat-boat and trading boat, clerked in Metropolis, purchased a flat-boat, made two trips down the river, purchased a stock of goods and sold them, and in every transaction made money. Tn 1879 he retired for some time from a long business life in general merchandising, but later re-entered a successful like career, amassing a fortune. He always participated in every effort to build up the city and was a charter member of the First National Banking flrm, being one of its flrst directors. Mr. McKee was twice married, his flrst wife being Miss Sarah Sheets of Metropolis, after whose death he was united in marriage Aug. 24, 1879, to Miss Henrietta Delavan, amiable daughter of Judge Delavan, an able lawyer, born in Virginia, who for eight years was county judge of Massac county, and who died in 1881. Her aged and respected mother still lives at Metropolis. Mr. McKee and wife, Henrietta, had two bright children, the older a daughter, Effie Myrtle, now a graduate WM. M. PRIESTLEY. R. G. B. McKEE. Massac County. 197 from the Department of Music of the Southem Illinois Col legiate Institute, is an accomplished pianist. The younger, a son, named in honor of his lamented father, Robert Green B., is budding into youth, a bright lad of brilliant prospects. Not until late in life did our subject unite with any church. Warring creeds always kept him aloof until he be came a charter member and prime mover in the organization of the Congregationalist church in Metropolis, which received his prayers and most careful consideration during its early life until his death, Nov. 9, 1892. Although a self-made man, Mr. McKee was broad-minded, talented. Industrious, honest, devout and prosperous. JAMES E. GOWAN, M. D. James E. Gowan, M. D., was born in Madison county, Tenn., Oct. 31, 1841. His father William, was of South Car olina, and his grandfather was a Scotchman of Edinburg. Wil liam, a hatter, and John, his brother, early emigrated to South Carolina. William Gowan married Judith Adkisson, a na tive Scotch lady, who had come to America. They, in a col ony, moved to Madison county, Tenn., cleared a farm and lived upon it till their death, he at the age of 115 years, and she at 97. Their son, William Granville, was born In South Carolina. He inherited a large farm on which he yet lives. He married Miss Eveline Wood of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Dr. Gowan attended subscription schools and Jackson, Tenn., academy, graduating from McKendree (Tenn.) College. He next Graduated from the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, 1860, and practiced m^icine at Metropolis awhile. He graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1866, re sumed the practice of medicine in Massac county, superintend ed his farm, later moved to Metropolis and opened a drug store in 1880, which he sold in 1892 to better serve his many pa tients. In 1868 he married Miss Harriet, daughter of John and Elizabeth Yates, of Ohio. They have three daughters, Eva- 198 History of line E., wife of Captain S. B. Kerr, Metropolis, 111.; Anna, wife of Dr. Edwin Coriis, Point Pleasant, Mo., and Nettie, unmar ried; also three sons, John G., James E., Jr., and Charles G. The Doctor was Hospital Stewart of the Eighth Regiment Illinois National Guards, a constant and valued member of the Massac County Medical Society, a member of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41, K. T., and of Massac Lodge No. 442 I. O. O. F., and Egypt Encampment No. 45, and Orestes Lodge No. 268, K. P. For a number of years he ably represented his ward in the city council. After suffering for quite a while with cancer of the stomach, he died Oct. 27, 1899, at his home surrounded by his relatives and many friends. SAMUEL D. POOR. Samuel Poor, the father, was a native of North Carolina, who in an early day, with his wife emigrated to Fentriss coun ty, Tenn., and in 1836 moved to Johnson county, 111., entering forty acres of land when only flve houses were between Grants burg and Vienna. Twenty acres were cleared and fenced, and a house built the flrst year, when Mr. Poor died. For three years the mother struggled to make a living, when she sold the farm and found homes for the children. Samuel D. Poor was born April 8, 1827, in their Tennessee home. Was eight years old when brought to Johnson county, and at sixteen years of age went tO' work for Joseph McCorkle until he was twenty-one, for a horse, saddle, bridle, and winter schooling. At twenty he left McCorkle be cause of a misunderstanding. About this time his mother died and the boy had gone to school eight months. He re ceived six dollars a month to carry the mail from Vienna to Caledonia, then eight dollars a month as a farm hand, and went down the Mississippi river to cut cord wood. While on this trip he had the cholera, returned, went to Missouri on a "rail-splitting" expedition. At twenty-four he made enough cropping for A. D. Howell, his brother-in-law, at one-fourth, to purchase a horse, saddle and bridle. SAMUEL D. POOR. Massac County. 201 At twenty-seven he married, traded his horse for the im provement on a land entry and purchased a warrant for the land. To this he added other land until at the beginning of the war he owned, clear of debt, 200 acres. He built a store room at Grantsburg, but did not have enough money to stock it, so he rented the room to another, who was to give an option on the goods to Mr. Poor. Within six months the merchant died and the stock was sold to Mr. Poor by Thomas Morgan, admin istrator, at $600. In the stock was five barrels of "Bourbon whisky," which was Immediately sold for $400 and paid on the $600 debt. The stock was gradually increased and rapid ly turned at war-values, realizing large proflts. He purchased the Howell farm, on which he had "cropped" years before, moved to his store in 1867, had a post office established at Grantsburg and became postmaster. He sold out to Simp son & Kieth and after a rest re-entered merchandising until 1882, when he again retired for two years. In 1884, he formed the S. D. Poor & Co. — L. H. Frizzell and L. G. Simmons com posing the company. When the railroad was built to Metrop olis he and Mr. Simmons opened a store there. He opened another store with J. T. Hamilton as partner and sold his in terest with Mr. Simmons to L. H. .Frizzell. The Hamilton store interest he sold to Roskemer and later bought out Friz zell, which interest he sold to C. E. Hilgeman, who later pur chased Simmon's Interest. In April, 1896, Poor & Simmons opened their present business in the Poor block, and are pros pering. In May, 1854, Mr. Poor married Miss Sarah J., daughter of William and Nancy Mounts, estimable people of Johnson coun ty. They are the parents of ten children. Two sons died in infancy; G. W. died, 1864, and B. F., 1867; six reached ma turity; Cora A. died, 1872; Ida M., 1876, and Mary, wife of P. G. Burns, in 1892. Their only son, J. N.,at 22, was started In business by his father in Vienna, and died in 1890; Mrs. Jane Fern is the wife of Dr. J. W. Fern, Tunnel Hill, 111.; Mrs. Sid ney Frizzell, the wife of L. H. Frizzell, Vienna, 111.; Mrs. Lizzie Simmons, wife of L. G. Simmons of Metropolis, 111., where Mr. 202 History of and Mrs. Poor also now reside, in the enjoyment of a life well spent. He is 73 years old and his wife 70. When a youth Mr. Poor was converted at Vienna, 111., and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he lived for forty-four years. In Metropolis they united with the Con gregational church ten years ago. In politics, Mr. Poor is an ardent Prohibitionist and has contributed a number of strong temperance articles to the press. He is also the author of an "Autobiography," "A Night in Dreamland," and "A Practical Talk on Christianity and Politics." JUDGE BENJAMIN J. DELAVAN. Benjamin J. Delavan was of French descent, born about 1815, in Rochester, Va., and in 1843, with his fathei- came to Paducah, there editing and publishing the flrst newspaper ol that city. - After his father's death, the young man came to Massac county, and taught school. He was both a Greek and Latin scholar, an exceptional attainment in that day. For years he was school treasurer and justice of the peace. His admis sion to practice in the circuit co irt of Massac county is the flrst on record, although pulmonary trouble prevented an ex tensive practice. In 1861 he was elected county judge of Massac county, which office he retained for two terms. His death, precipitat ed by pneumonia, occurred Jan. 7th, 1883, at his home near Brooklyn. He left a widow, yet living, a son, and two daugh ters — Mrs. Henrietta McKee, and Mrs. Fannie Williamson. COLONEL W. R. BROWN. William Robert Brown, youngest child of William and Catherine (Anderson) Brown, was born in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 19, 1832. His father, only son of Robert Brown, an Irish emi grant, who settled in Baltimore, 1762, was born 1792; married BENJAMIN J. DELAVAN. COL. W. R. BROWN. Massac County. 205 Catherine Anderson, 1812, who was bom in Fairfax county Va., 1793. She was highly educated and accomplished, and her an cestors accompanied Lord Fairfax to America. The father aided in the defense of Washington City, saw it burned, as did also the wife, from their home in Georgetown, and participated in the battle of Blandensburg. In 1816 they moved to Louis ville, Ky., residing there until 1846. At fourteen the son had a good common school education, and was a trained cooper, the father pursuing that trade for years. In 1846 the family came to Metropolis, where within three weeks the mother died. Determined upon an independ ent course, yonng W. R. returned to Louisville, worked as apprentice one year for a blacksmith, gained needed muscle, returned to Illinois, and was sent one year to the Beach and Chapman Academy, Louisville. In 1849 he was his father's bookkeeper, and in 1852 he be came a successful merchant, until 1861. An ardent patriot, in 1861, he enlisted as private under Captain Carmichael, in the first company from Massac county, which formed a com pany of the Twenty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of which he was tendered lieutenant colonel, but refused because he felt ignorant of military tactics. He was made Regiraent al quartermaster, being the flrst one in the state to draw sup plies at Camp Butler on his own requisition. After forty days at Cairo he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and aided by Colonel Robert Kirkham of Shawneetown, organized the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, and the Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, in Egypt, being commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the latter, and 1862, was promoted to Colonel. The regiment was one of the best, saw bard service in driving back General Forrest from Western Kentucky, fought at Farmington, a.nd had many skirmishes. Four of his five children having suddenly and almost simul taneously died, he resigned his commission and came home, promoted enlistments and organized the Thirteenth Illinois Infantry, and recommended G. W. Neeley for Colonel and R. A. Peter for Lieutenant-Colonel, making the third regiment which be organized in Southern Illinois. 2o6 History of On July 3, 1863, he reported to General Logan at Vicks burg, who directed the Colonel to join his old comrades — ^the Fifty-sixth, and by them was given an ovation, although clothed as a citizen. He was forced by them to don an impro vised Colonel's uniform and led the charge next day when Vicksburg surrendered. After the surrender in a neat little speech he bade the regiment adieu and it supported Sherman in his march to the sea. Always an unflinching Republican, he was a prime mover in the organization of that party in Southem Illinois. He was an influential member of the XXVHth General Assembly, the session following the adoption of the constitution, the most important session in the history of the state, and enacted the re-districting measure which made the state reliable Republi can, and the minority report on the Chicago fire; he was the author of both. Under his direction our school laws were also generalized and simplified. Returning home he was solicited to accept the nomination for Congress in 1872, but refused. Locally, he was a member of the Board of Education for ten years, proposed the beautiful High School building, furnished the money to complete it, and always maintained that our teachers should be the most proficient the Normal Schools afforded, by which means our city schools hold an enviable rank. By his efforts mainly, the colored citizens were furnished their High School; amicably adjusting the vexing race question. He furnished the money to extend the Western Union Telegraph from Vienna — the flrst line, and was a lead ing spirit in bringing the first railroad, while the electric lights, water works and beautiful streets are mute witnesses of his public spirit. Once the owner of a large amount of property. Colonel Brown was interested in the establishment of the private bank of M. Mayfield & Co., owning and man aging the same from 1872 until the organization of the Brown & Bruner bank in 1883, which prospered until 1893. Many leading factories were practically being maintained by this bank and hundreds of men had steady employment at good wages. In 1895 the tariff laws were altered and a panic en- Massac County. 207 sued, prostrating busy industries and all connected therewith. These factories became useless and Brown & Bruner were forced to make an assignment, forsaken by friends and pressed by enemies, the Colonel surrendered everything to aid his creditors, believing that manhood and integrity only were worth preserving to the end. Colonel Brown has still living five daughters and two sons. They are all to him that a good father could hope for. He could not and would not' improve them if he could, in their kindness and generosity to him.. He has two wives dead. When living they were a part of his soul and dead he will never fail to love them or cease to remember their virtues, their chaste and graceful goodness and deep and generous love. The Colonel does not belong to any church society, but is a high Mason, a Knight Templar, and was for many years Eminent Commander of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41 of Metropolis, Illinois. He is also a comrade of the G. A. R., and was formerly commander of the Tora Smith Post of this city. JESSE A. ORR, M. D. Hughey Orr, an Irish saddler, early emigrated to Virginia, and thence to the wilds of the Kentucky frontier with his wife, where both died. William M. Orr, their son, was born in Cald well county, Ky., 1811, and had two brothers and a sister. "VVilliara farmed and learned the carpenter's trade. His par ents being poor, at twenty-one, he began life on his own ac- cC'Unt, married Miss Na.ncy M. Adams, a native Kentuckian, purchased a timber tract, built a log cabin, improved it amid the wilds of early days, and died thereon Aug. 22, 1888. He left a widow, who died in February, 1899, at the home of her y(mngest son in Mayfield, Ky., at the ripe age of 84 years. They were most estiraable people, the parents of eleven chil dren, three of whora died in infancy, and the living are highly respected; two sons have attained prominence as Methodist ministers, and our subject, an excellent reputation as a phy sician. 2o8 History of Jesse A. Orr was bom in Graves county, Ky., March 28, 1845, on the old homestead, attended the primitive schools in winter, and farmed in summer until his 17th year, when he enlisted in the Fifteenth Kentucky Cavalry, Company E, saw hard service, was disabled in the shoulder by the fall of his horse, and in poor health was mustered out at Paducah. Re turning home he attended school one year, and determined to study raedicine. His father was not able to pay his way, and our young soldier raust now flght the battles attendant upon the struggle for an education. Not discouraged, he worked at the carpenter's trade, and under the direction of Dr. J. A. Ryburn purchased a set of medical works, pursuing his studies alone until 1872, when he entered the office of Dr. Ryburn, as a student and probation practitioner. In 1877, he came to Pellonia, Massac county. III. Here he prospered, and graduated in January, 1878, from the Eclec tic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, one of the leading col leges of the country. Until October, 1892, Dr. Orr success fully practiced his profession at Pellonia and Fairplay, both in Massac county, when he raoved to Metropolis, where he now resides. In his chosen profession Dr. Orr hap taken a marked in terest, several tiraes serving as county physician, and for five years president of the County Medical Association. He is a prominent member of the Methodist church, a Mason, and Past Commander of "Tom Sraith" Post G. A. R. Always a Republican^ — ^even while in Kentucky — ^he has held the confldence and esteem of his party, and the counsels of which he has exercised a marked influence. President Har rison appointed hira a raeraber of the Board of United States Pension Examining Surgeons, as did also President McKinley. For thre<^ terms he has been president of the Board of Edu cation of Metropolis, malilng a capable officer. He was mar ried March 11, 1875, to Miss Mary Henderson of Massac coun ty. They have an elegant horae on Fourth street. Dr. j. a. orr. WILLIAM WRIGHT. Massac County. 211 WILLIAM WRIGHT. William 'Wright was born in Missouri, 184C, farmed while young, and attended the public school. When the civil war broke out he volunteered in the Twenty-eighth Illinois Infan try, served three years and passed through hard service at Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg, sacrlflcing the strength of youth upon the altar of his country. Sixteen years were spent at saw-milling and in 1889 he came to Metropolis to operate a circular saw in the Loud mills, which he did efficiently until by failing health he was forced to retire in 1885. In this year he was elected a justice of the peace in and for Metropolis, which position he has contiuously held, being now the senior justice of the county. In 1890, he was chosen a member of the Board of Education, serving as its secretary. For a nuraber of years he has been a notary public. Formerly a warm friend and associate of R. A. Davidson, deceased, pen sion attorney, he now conducts the large and Important busi ness in his own name successfully. Politically "Squire" Wright is a Republican, and relig iously an elder in the Christian church. Ftaternally he is a Knights Teraplar, Patriarch Militant, Knight of Pythias, and meraber Tora Smith Post Grand Array of the Republic. As proof of his clerical ability he has served as secretary and treasurer of the flrst tbree naraed- He married Miss Ellen Adams of Alexander county, Illi nois, and they have (mly one son, William Herschel, a grad uate of the city High School, and Georgia Robinson Christian College, Scientlflc course. He is connected with the extensive flrm of Harris & Cole Brothers as their bookkeeper. JAMES A. HELM, M. D. Dr. Jaraes A. Helra, son of James G. and Susan A. Helm, was bom in Massac county. 111., Dec. 25, 1857. His parents re moved frora Marshall county, Tenn., to Illinois about 1840, and 212 History of located on a farm in Johnson county, afterwards moved to Massac county, near New Columbia. His father, James G. Helm, a veteran of the War of the Rebellion, was second lieu tenant in Company K, First Illinois Light Artillery, and is at this writing, the only coraraissioned officer of his corapany living. Dr. Helra spent the flrst twenty-three years of his life on a farra, and obtained his literary education in the rural schools of Johnson and Massac counties. He began the study of raedicine in the spring of 1881 and attended his flrst course of lectures at the University of Tennessee, Medical Depart raent, Nashville, during the following winter, and received the degree of M. D., Feb. 24, 1885. In the following April he locat ed at Bado, Mo., and entered upon his professional career. He was raarried to Miss Mary E. Edgar of Mountain Grove, Mo.. in September, 1887, removed to Illinois in the fall of 1888, and located at Ganntown, Johnson county. In the fall of 1891 he took a post graduate course in the Baltimore Medical College, Baltimore, Md., and received his addendum degree from that college in April, 1892. Removed to Metropolis, III., in Janu ary, 1895, and formed a co-partnership in the practice of medi cine with Dr. John H. Norris, which existed until the death of the latter in August, 1896. In 1897, during President McKinley's adrainistration, he received an appointraent on the Board of LTnited States Pen sion Exaraining Surgeons, and was raade secretary of that body during their terra of service. He is a raeraber of the M. E. church of Metropolis; also a meraber of Metropolis Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M., of Massac Lodge No. 446, 1. O. 0. F., and of Orestes Lodge No. 268, K. P. WILLIAM HERMAN KRAPER. W. F. Kraper, the father, was born in Germany in 1832. came to Cincinnati, Ohio, 1845, and to Metropolis, III., 1866. He died Jan. 9, 1871. In Cincinnati, Ohio, he raarried Miss Wilhelmina Wllke, also born in Germany, and was brought to America at the age of ten. W. H. Kraper, their son, was bom in Cincinnati, Ohio, J. A, HELM, M. D. MRS. J. A. HELM. WILLIAM HERMAN KRAPER. Massac County. 215 Sept. 19, 1859. At the age of flve ho fell into the cellar and displaced the patella of the left knee, which kept hira in bed for thirteen long months and two years on crutches. When six, he was brought to Metropolis and attended school until fourteen, when by the death of his father he was forced to aid, as a boy could, in making a living. He began work in the shipping department of Yost, Bige low & Co.'s spoke works, tying up bundles of spokes at 50 cents a day, which he continued for three years. The next two years he clerked for Henry Johnson at $13.00 a month, and the succeeding year got $16.00 a month of H. Quante & Broth er -for clerking. He boarded himself. He then went to Cin cinnati to act as city salesman for the Rampendahl corapany, doing a general railling and brokers' business. In this fleld he succeeded, becoraing a partner, but later it was dissolved. Re turning to Metropolis, 1884, he put his raoney into the cigar factory, formerly operated by his brother. The flrm was W. H. Kraper & Bro. Mr. Kraper took the road to sell their prod uct, which was raade by his brother and one assistant; today he owns the business and steadily employs about thirty hands. He owns besides this, various business interests and is director of the First National Bank. Politically, Mr. Kraper is a Republican, and a hard party worker. He was elected to the city council the year saloons were voted out and although favorable to saloons he voted against them because of the voice of the people in the election. He has been chairraan of the county central coraraittee, dele gate to the various local and state conventions and member of the congressional committee. He served several terras on the Board of Education, ably and acceptably, has been frequently urged to run for mayor of Metropolis, and was appointed post master by President McKinley, 1897. Mr. Kraper is a Mason, and Odd Fellow, and was a charter meraber of Orestes Lodge No. 268 Knights of Pythias. On Sept. 27, 1883, he married Miss Carrie Baumbusch, a native of Cincinnati, and they have one son, W. H. Kraper, Jr., born 2i6 History of June 29th, 1884, now of great assistance to his father in his business. A. C. RAGSDALE, M. D. Dr. A. C. Ragsdale was born in the old "Harvey Craig" farm near Goreville in Johnson county. 111. His grandfather, Joel Ragsdale, was a North Carolinian, who moved to Ken tucky. His father, Thoraas H. Ragsdale, a native Kentuckian, located in Johnson county and mari'ied Miss Nancy Askew. Of four boys and seven girls our subject is the third child. "Happy Hollow" school house with puncheon floor, stick chiraney and slab seats, near his home, was the fountain of education for young Ragsdale during the winter, until 18 years of age. In the sumraer he farmed. Between 18 and 20 he labored for a flrm in Marion, returned to Johnson county, pur chased a photographer's outfit, learned the trade, fell in love with chemistry, and thus determined to study medicine. He studied that science for two years until 11 o'clock each night and on Sundays. He would arise at 5 o'clock in the morning and start fires in the mill furnaces of which he was engineer. He entered a medical school in Keokuk, Iowa, 1886, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur geons of St. Louis, March, 1889, locating at Massac creek, Massac county, III., for flve years. In 1894 he raoved to Me tropolis, III., where he now resides, enjoying an extensive prac tice. He has deterrained to master the dreaded cancer and has made a special study of this disease which he successfully treated in connection with his general practice for three years. He agitated a Sanitarium in which to treat all chronic troubles and perform surgical operations, but "hard tiraes" prevented its erection until Dr. C. E. Trovillion, now of the "Faculty," joined with hira. He alone erected an elegant building, cor ner Sixth and Metropolis streets, which they jointly have well equipped for the highest professional treatraent of its many patients, with which it is continuously crowded. Although DR.lA. C. RAGSDALE. C.E. TROVILLION, M.D. Massac County. 219 confronted with discouragements, an unconquerable will has enabled him to attain the chief arabition of his life. The new building was opened Nov. 1, 1899, with raany patients. One year of successful labor had preceded this in rented, though well equipped apartments, which soon passed the experimental stage, and "The Metropolis Sanitarium" is now a flxture. As examiner for the Mutual Life of New York, North western Mutual of Milwaukee, Penn. Mutual, Western Mutual, and Prudential insurance companies he has examined over two thousand applicants, has been an active raeraber of the Mas.sac County Medical Society for five years, acting secretary for four of. thera. In August, 1900, he and Dr. Trovillion began the publica tion of "The Southern Illinois Journal of Medicine and Sur gery," which was a^dopted in November as the official organ 01 the Southem Illinois Medical Association. When twenty-two years of age he married Miss Sarah A. Dennison, and to them three children have been born, as fol lows: Ida Myrtle, Charles Robbie, and John Logan. The faraily has an elegant horae on the ground floor of the Sani tarium building, fllled with life's comforts. CHARLES EDWARD TROVILLION, M. D. Carles E. Trovillion was bom rear Columbus, Pope coun ty, 111., April 17, 1868. His father, Daniel P., with the grand father, James Y. Trovillion, came from Tennessee, being orig inally French Huguenots who had fled to Virginia. His moth er, Elizabeth Trovillion, nee Lewis, was early left an orphan, she became a strong, imjiressive Christian character. Of the family, four brothers survive — one Baptist rainis ter, one farraer, and two other physicians ; two sisters are also living. Young Trovillion farraed and attended the. rural schools in youth, but early turned to the study of raedicine with his brother. Dr. J. A. Trovillion, in 1887, whora he accom panied to Nashville, that fall, to attend a course of lectures in 220 History of the Medical Department of the University of Tennessee, and graduated at the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons March, 1891. He Immediately formed a partnership with his brother. Dr. J. A., which continued three years, and then he and his brother, M. H., becarae co-partners. To further his knowledge and skill, he took an addendum degree at the Barnes Medical College, St. Louis, and also the St. Louis Baptist Hospital, ac quiring a diploma from each institution. Cognizant of his ability and ambitious he came to Metrop olis and associated himself with Dr. A. C. Ragsdale to open and operate a Sanitarium for the treatraent of disease under the immediate care of skilled physicians. The Sanitarium, de scribed in another place, was operated so successfully in rent ed quarters the first year that it now occupies its own building, and enjoys a liberal patronage. In this Sanitarium Dr. Trovil lion is professor of surgery and Gynecology, of which he has made special study. Tho doctor is raedical exarainer for the Aetna Life Insur ance C( nipany, the Court of Honor and Supreme Examiner of the Knights of Massac. He is secretary of the Massac County Medical Society, and by President McKinley was appointed on the Pension Examining Board of Pope county. Politically he is a stalwart Republican. Our subject was first raarried to Miss Millie Abbott, May 21, 1891, and they had one son, Russell. Mrs. Trovillion died Aug. 15th, 1894, and Aug. 18, 1895, he married Miss Rilla Wa ters, to whom have been born two children, Trois and Howard. The faraily have a beautiful home on Metropolis street. CAPT. E. W. HILLIARD. Joseph Hilliard, great grandfather of our subject, was a Revolutionary soldier; Edward Hilliard, the grandfather, was a soldier of the war of 1812; Jonathan S., the father, was a volunteer in the Mexican war; and Captain Hilliard served throughout the bloody civil war, patriotic record unsurpassed. Massac County. 221 January 22nd, 1844, Edward W., son of Jonathan S. and Amanda Hilliard, was born in New Albany, Ohio, attended the comraon schools, high school of Salem, Ohio; entered Mt. Un ion College, near Alliance, Ohio, but soon enlisted in the pres ident's call for 75,000 volunteers. At the expiration of the 90 days., he re-enlisted in the Forty-third Ohio, and later in the veteran corps. He participated in the first battle. Rich Mountain, and the last one also, Bentonville, N. C. During the battles around Vicksburg, 5,000 rebel prisoners were taken and a detachraent of eight corapanies including Mr. Hilliard's, was ordered to take thera to the Federal prison at Indianap olis, Ind., which was found so crowded upon their arrival that they were taken to Ft. Delaware, near Philadelphia. When the eight companies reached Harrisburg, Pa., on their return they were pressed into the provisional service for the fearful battle of Gettysburg and were then allowed to retum, joining the Brigade at Memphis, which was coming from Vicksburg; seeing service in the "March to the Sea," fought the day Mc Pherson fell, and was at the capture and burning of Colura bia. His regiment also participated in the battle of Shiloh, while it supported "Battery Robinette" at Corinth with 582 raen, only 186 of whora answered the roll call the following raorning; although present. Veteran Hilliard was wounded in tlie hip. During his service, the concussion of a shell burst ing near his head, Injured his ear drum. July 25th, 1865, our hero was mustered out of service and retumed home with honors. In Ms early years he learned the trade of carriage build ing, in which he is an expert. From 1866 to 1891 he followed his trade in Kansas and Missouri, coraing to Metropolis April 15, 1891, and has built up a large and paying business. March 7, 1893, he and Miss Drusilla, daughter of A. C. and Martha May, of Metropolis, were married. Mrs. Hilliard was born in Massac county, 111., February 18th, 1871. She is a talented violinist. They have one little daughter, Laura Martha, who was bom July 20, 1894. Captain Hilliard and wife are members of the Christian church, he being a trustee. 222 History of and he has been elected coraraander of Tom Sraith Post No. 345 from December, 1895, every year since. COL. R. A. PETER. The maternal grandfather and grandraother of Colonel R. A. Peter were Irish. Tlie paternal grandfather's record is strictly Araerican. The father and mother lived in Simpson county, Ky., where Richard Asbury Peter was born April 17, 1818. He carae with his wife to Massac county. 111., Oct. 14, 1842, having raarried Miss Araanda C, daughter of David Proffett, Nov. 11, 1841. She was born March 12th, 1825. They have long since passed their golden wedding anniversary and are yet living. Colonel Peter opened up a farm three miles from Metrop olis and later moved to the city. His first vote was for Wil liara Henry Harrison and frora the birth of the party has been an ardent Republican. He has raany tiraes been a justice of the peace and served for two terms as Police Magistrate of Metropolis. Massac County. 223 October, 1862, he enlisted in the 131st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was cominisisoned Lieutenant-Colo nel. The regiment was stationed for sometime at Fort Mas sac and did good service. Colonel Peter has always been a strict temperance advocate. When in his thirteenth year he was converted in Calloway county, Ky., and joined the Meth odist church, of which both are life-long members. They had twelve children. JAMES A. PETER. J. A., eldest son of Colonel R. A. Peter, was bom on the Custom House lot, Paducah, Ky., Sept. 13th, 1842, attended the Metropolis schools, and enlisted in. Company A, afterward Corapany B, First Illinois Cavalry, May 20, 1861, being trans ferred to Carraichael's company. In August, 1862, he aided in organizing the 131st Illinois and Grant commissioned hira to raise a corapany, which he did. August 12, 1862, in his 19th year, he was chosen second lieutenant, and served with honor throughout the war. , 224 History of For twenty years he engaged in the livery business, oper ated a saw-raill, and farraed. He has served two terms as con stable and five terras in the city council, where his usefulness cannot be measured. He was the first captain of the local company of State Guards, and for ten days was ranking officer at East St. Louis, during the riots and creditably controlled a serious situation. January 1, 1867, he married Angelina Bacus, daughter of a leading Massac county farmer, and to them have been bom three children, Mrs. Louis Paust, Jaraes Edward, special flre officer for the city, and Mrs. Fritz Roskeraraer, of the firm of Bunger & Roskeraraer, leading raerchants. Mr. Peter is a loyal Grand Array raan, an Odd Fellow for twenty-four years, a Knight of Pythias, a strict Republican, and -hearty good citizen. HIRAM C. FISHER, M. D. Dr. H. C. Fisher was bom March 24, 1838, on a farm in Union township, Vanderburg county, Ind., attended the dis trict school about three months each year until 16 years of age, when he entered and afterward graduated frora a Commercial College, returned to the farm and in 1865 began the study of raedicine, graduating March 4, 1868, frora the Ohio Medical College. He practiced his profession for three years at his old home, then moved to New Liberty, Pope county, and in the year 1882 he came to Metropolis. Today he is still actively and successfully prosecuting an extensive practice, although 62 years of age. The Doctor was a Republican frora Lincoln's tirae until in 1896, he became an ardent "Silver Republican." He never joined any religious society, is a Mason, and has belonged ac tively, to both the Pope and Massac County Medical Societies. He is the author of two novels of much merit, which will be soon published. He has been married three times. Miss Ad elaide Moss of Indiana, was his first wife. After her death H. C. FISHER, M. D. SYLVESTER SHOEMAKER. Massac County. 227 he married Amanda McElevey of Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the mother of his two children, Hodge T., Metropolis,, III., and Mrs. Grace C. Winter, Bozeman, Mont. His present wife was Miss Grace A. Slater of Metropolis. SYLVESTER S. SHOEMAKER. George G. Shoemaker, the father, was a moulder, born in Adaras county, Ohio, moved to Stewart county, Tenn., and there married Miss Malinda Griffin, a native of South Carolina. To them was born Sylvester S., August 3rd, 1849, who was taken, when six months old, by his parents, to Trigg county, Ky., where his parents died. When a boy he attended school and came to Metropolis, December, 1864, with his sister. He attended the city schools, and clerked for Jones & Farrow several years. In 1883 he conducted a grocery store and later farmed. For two years beginning 1888, he was with Blitz & Co., and H. Ringold & Bro. Frora 1892-'4 he was clerk and payraaster for the Towle Luraber Corapany. Politically, Mr. Shoemaker has always been a Democrat. His popularity was evidenced, however, in his election to the office of county clerk in 1877, and by a constitutional change, served five years. He made a strong race for clerk later, but was defeated, the county being overwhelmingly Republican. Twice has he made flattering races for sheriff. In July, 1894, he was appointed postmaster of Metropolis and served until July, 1898. At present Mr. Shoemaker is doing a prosperous life insurance business. October 13, 1880, Mr. Shoemaker and Miss Anna E., daugh ter of David S. and Mary A. Laughlin, of Metropolis, were raarried. They are both merabers of the M. E. church and are highly respected. WILLIAM P. MCCARTNEY. An announcement in the Promulgator: "Born to the wife of Robert W. McCartney, of this firm, a son, the 18th inst., (May, 1870,) at 5 a. ra. . Narae Williara Priestly. Mother 228 History of and son doing nicely. Ye junior editor is pleased, pensive and proud," gave notice of the debut into society of the only surviving descendant of the late Judge R. W. McCartney. The mother of W.' P. McCartney was the youngest daugh ter of William M. and Mary V. Priestly, and she died, leaving the subject of this sketch (and a brother, who survived the mother only four years), Infants of tender years. But the early training of the boy was not neglected be cause of this unfortunate combination. Attendant upon the public schools of Metropolis, Norris Joine^ and W. P. McCart ney were the only two lads of their class of Metropolis Public Schools, that were not too wise to study to the end of their course; so in the year 1886 W. P. McCartney was graduated from our High Schools. That fall he entered the Detroit High School, of Detroit, Michigan, and the fall of 1888 entered the University of Illinois. He was absent from the College during the year 1891, returning in January, 1892. He finished his four years at the University, the highest institution in our State school system, which bestowed upon him the Degree of Bachelor of Science, and was graduated with honors in the World's Fair class. Since that time he bas taught his special sciences, physics and cheraistry; studied law; conducted a raodel pharraacy in Metropolis, Illinois, and has spent no little time in the man agement of his estates and in travel. In April, 1898, he enlisted in the service of the U. S. V-, and was detailed to special scientific service in the Spanish- American carapaigns. He was honorably discharged, Oct. 11, 1898. Since that tirae he has continued his law studies and during the college year of 1899-1900, he has attended the lec tures in the College of Law in his Alraa Mater. September 17th, 1895, Mr. McCartney was married to Miss Mayme Perrine of Mound City, Illinois, and their home has been blessed by the advent of three sturdy boys, Robert A., H. Dewey, and Jaraes Scott, the latter being born during the residence of the faraily in Champaign, Illinois. It has been the ambition of W. P. McCartney to rise in W. P_^ MCCARTNEY. GREEN B. CHOAT. MRS. G. B. CHOAT. Massac County. 231 that branch of the profession known as lego-raedical juris prudence, and to this end he has spared neither energy, tirae or finances. The coming June will find him engaged in his chosen line and we bespeak for him, because of his easy ad dress, broad culture and tact, a high and honorable position in the courts of our state. Socially Mr. McCartney is an advanced Odd Fellow, a member of Massac Lodge No. 442, and a member of Orestes Lodge Knights of Pythias; an officer in Longley Carap No. 150, Sons of Veterans, U. S. A.; a member of the B. P. O. E.; Pres ident of the University of Illinois Society of the Army and Navy in the War of 1898 ; a fellow in the T. S. G. ; proprietor of the McCartney Music Hall and Public Library Block, and of the McCartney Drug Block of the city of Metropolis, together with other valuable interests throughout Massac county. Al together W. P. McCartney is ranked in the fore front of our best citizens. J. B. S. EUGENE LAFONT. Eugene Lafont, manager and part proprietor of the Era pire Flouring Mills, at Metropolis, Massac county, is a son of Lewis A Lafont, who came from Missouri to Illinois, 1850, married Miss Malinda Choat of Metropolis, engaged in general merchandising and continued in said business for a nuraber of years. He then made brick and built a large number of the early brick structures of Metropolis, among thera the Em pire Mill, putting in raachinery and running it for four years. To them were born nine children : Augustus, died in Massac county; Eugene, lives, in Metropolis; Mary, deceased; Lena, wife of W. W. Largent, Harrisburg, 111.; Fannie, widow of Reuben Dye, and Walter, Willie, Charles and Richard, all four deceased. Eugene Lafont was bom in Metropolis, March 22, 1857, and was reared in that city. When but fourteen, his mother who yet lives with hira, needed his assistance in caring for the 232 History of younger children. . He had already received a little educa tion in the common schools, sufficient to enable him to carry ou such work as he found to do. He ran the mill dray, the engine, and every detail of the work was mastered by hira in a careful, painstaking way. He was observing, faithful and practical, and in 1880 purchased an interest in the mill, since which time he has been the manager, building up a profitable and established trade. New improvements have judiciously been made, keeping the raill abreast of its tirae. In 1877 he and Miss Malissa, estiraable daughter of W. P. and Mrs. Bruner, were married. They have two bright, in dustrious and manly boys, William A., a graduate of Metrop olis High School, aud now an expert stenographer, enjoying a good position in St. Louis, and Roy, who is yet at home. Polit ically, Mr. Lafont is a Democrat; fraternally an Odd Fellow. having represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of 1892. He is also a member of Metropolis Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Lafont is an active and useful Methodist. Mr. Lafont is a man of more than ordinary business ability, genial, cour teous and has a host of friends. His grandfather and grand raother — Mr. and Mrs. Green B. Choat, were araong the ear liest and lived to be the oldest citizens of the county. Green B. Choat, born in Tennessee, July 3, 1810, carae to this section before the county was formed. He was a consta ble for twenty years and also served as county coraraissioner. October 26, 1898, he died at his residence in Metropolis, III. Mrs. Green B. Choat, forraerly Miss Tabitha Holland, was born in Tennessee, February 20, 1817, and was married March 5th, 1835. She is still living in Metropolis. Four daughters still live, Mesdames Malinda Fafont, Julia Musgrove, Charlotte Brown, and Lou White. July 4, 1893, the teachers presented a silver mounted cane to Mr. Choat, and a silver sugar shell and butter knife to Mrs. (Jhcat, as the oldest citizens of Massac county. Massac County. 233 FRED R. YOUNG. Frederick Randolph Young, only son of Dr. J. D. Young, whose sketch appears elsewhere, was born April 11, 1871, at Brooklyn, Illinois, and received his early training in the vil lage schools. He leamed rapidly and at an early age taught two suc cessful terms of school. Desirous to lay a broader foundation for professional work he entered Eureka College, Woodford, county, Illinois, and spent two years in pursuit of special branches. Returning to Brooklyn he was principal for two years of the schools, which he attended in youth. In the meantime he read law and flnished with one term in the law department of the Wesleyan University of Bloom ington, being admitted August, 1897, and immediately began the practice of his profession in Metropolis. Politically he is a zealous Republican, and in 1898 was chosen chairman of the county central coraraittee of Massac; county. In March, 1900, he was nominated by the RepublJ- 234 History of cans as candidate for the office of State's Attorney, and elected Nov. 6, 1900. Fraternally Mr. Young was made a Mason when only two months past twenty-one, is a Royal Arch Mason and member of Gethsemane Commander^' No. 41, Knights Templar of Me tropolis. December 27, 1897, he and Miss Azalie Jones, then a teacher in our city schools, were married and they have one daughter, Laura Effie, bom Oct. 1, 1899. EDWARD OSCAR SEXTON. Captain Burton Sexton, father of our sketch, was born in Henry county, Tenn., 1837, and early came to Johnson county, where he raarried Mary E. Neely, whO' had corae frora Living ston county, Ky. Edward Oscar was born in Johnson county, 111., March 18, 1869, and with his parents went to Kansas, where they resided for some tirae, returning to Illinois in 1874, and locating in Massac county, where Captain Sexton now resides. Mr. Sexton attended the rural schools and spent three Massac County. 235 years in the National Institute, Madisonville, Ky., graduating at the age of 18 years, and holds a diploma leading to the de gree of B. C. Returning to Joppa, 111., he clerked during the fall and winter of 1889 and 1890, and formed a partnership with bis brother-in-law in the latter jear. During 1897 he served as deputy circuit clerk, but resigned to engage in more lucrative employment. He is now doing a prosperous insur ance business in Metropolis, 111. December 5th, 1897, he was married to Miss Dickie Oakes, daughter of John Oakes, a leading citizen of Massac county. Mr. and Mrs. Sexton are among the most promising young peo ple of their county and the future has good things in store for them. ALBERT RANDOLPH COOK. Pastor Christian Church. The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 8th, 1874, in a one-window cabin in Crawford county, Ohio, the son of Johns S. Cook, a local United Brethren rainister, and Caroline Cook, the daughter of John Rasey, an early settler araong the Wyan dot Indians. His raother died when he was five days old. Of his father's ancestors he knows nothing. His raother's people are quite numerous in Northwestern Ohio. Young Albert attended the common schools of his native county until his eleventh year, when his father moved to Car roll county, Tenn., where he enjoyed the same privilege. At eighteen he entered the High School, Cato, N. Y., graduating in 1892, in which year he entered Hirara College, better known as ''Garfield's School," Hirara, Ohio. He remained two years, completing three years' work and also preaching as he had done since his nineteenth year. He is now actively engaged in the ministry. He was pastor of the Christian Church at Rolla, Mo., and also Richland, Mo. At McLeansboro, 111., his next charge, he made many friends and succeeded. Although only twenty-six he is on his second year as pastor of the Christian church at Metropolis, 111., and meeting with abundant success. Being a 236 History of close student and having extensively traveled he is original, forceful, fiuent and instructive in his discourses. We predict for him a bright future. December 12th, 1899, he married Miss Anna L. Mason, of McLeansboro, III., who' no doubt will prove an efficient help- raeet to the brilliant young divine, and author of the chapter - on the History of the Christian church in Massac county, found in this volurae, and is the candidate of the Prohibition party for the Legislature in the Fifty-first Senatorial District this year. JOHN R. TURNBO. Alderman. Robert Turnbo and Isabella ("ook were born and raarried in Graves county, Ky., were freed by Lincoln, and moved near Brooklyn, at the close of the War, coraing to Metropolis in 1881. The father was paralyzed and rendered helpless Thanksgiving day, 1887, and died July 21, 1893; the raother died April 17, 1887, leaving a large family. John L. Turnbo, their son, was born in Massac county Aug. 30th, 1871, and at his raother's death was left to care for an invalid father and five slsterS'. Although but 16 years old, he quit school, and began farming and teaming to make a living until 1887, when he entered the brick firra of Grace & Co., and had purchased all the interests by 1893. He now took a term of Acaderaic training, brick laying, and mechanical drawing in the renowned Tuskeegee Institute, Alabama. He is a scien tific maker of brick, and has been unable to supply the de mand. A large boiler and new kiln will be added to his plant this year, increasing its capacity to 20,000 bricks daily. Mr. Ttimbo is a stalwart Republican, never bolting his ticket. In 1898 he was elected city councilman from his ward, and returned again in 1900. In fratemal circles he is a G. U. O. O. F., filling every office in the local lodge, Illinois Star Lodge No. 1808, and was sent as district delegate to the Grand Lodge, which made hira Deputy Grand Master of Illinois one year. He holds a life membership in the district lodge. He ELDER A. R. COOK. (See page 235). CHAS. R. OTEY. (Seeipage 239). JOHN L. TURNBO. (See page 236)- METROPOLIS SANITARIUM. (See pages 216 and 220). Massac County. 239 became a member of the A. M. E. Church in 1884, filled every office in the local church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for twelve years. He was elected lay delegate by the Illinois conference in 1896 to the General Conference held at Wilmington, N. C, and re-elected in 1899 to attend the conference which convened in May, 1900, at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Turnbo stands high in the coraraunity. CHARLES R. OTEY. Chas; R. Otey was born in Crawford county. 111., on the 27th day of March, 1879. He is the oldest son of C. R. and Ida Otey, of Morea, III. On account of an accident at an early age, his education was limited, but at the age of seventeen his desire for an edu cation caused him to come to Metropolis, Aug. 24, 1896, where he attended High School, the following year. During the winter of 1897-'98 he taught school at Maple Grove and the two following winters at Powers, receiving an increase in salary the second year. He attended two terms of school at the Southem Illinois Norraal University at Carbon dale, during the suraraer of 1899, where he ranked high in all studies pursued. This winter he is teaching at Anderson school at a salary rarely received in the rural schools in this section of the state. Mr. Otey is an active raeraber of the M. E. church and Temperance Union, a model young raan, intelligent, quiet and industrious, having great esteem for his fellow men and a dis taste for the ill-will of any one. He is a staunch Republican and cast his vote first for the the re-election of the man whom he thinks one of the three great presidents destined to guide our grand nation through a great struggle. HON. JONATHAN C. WILLIS. Jonathan Clay Willis, of Metropolis, Massac county, Illi nois, was bom on a farm in Sumner county, Tennessee, on the 27th of June, 1826. The ancestors on the paternal side immi- 240 History of grated to this country from England in 1647. Seven brothers came over and settled in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and North Carolina. His grandfather, Richard Willis, was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and fought under General Washington during that entire struggle. He settled in North Carolina after the war, where he died at the age of eighty in the year 1800. His father's name was also Richard Willis, who, during the earlier part of his life, farmed and taught school, alter nately in North Carolina and Tennessee, and his mother's name was Catherine Brighara of English descent, her ances tors having iramigrated to North Carolina three generations previously. His parents raoved to Illinois in 1833 and settled in Gallatin county, where they both died three years later. Jonathan C. is the eleventh child of a family of twelve chil dren, six sons and six daughters, eleven of whom lived to raa turity. Being left an orphan at the early age of eleven years, and thrown upon his own resources for obtaining a livelihood and an education, the struggle for the former left hira but little opportunity for the latter in youth, consequently his education was limited to such branches as were supposed to be of most practical use. He settled himself in Golconda, Pope county. in 1843, and followed different occupations, particularly that of fiat-boating on the rivers, until 1852, when he was elected sheriff of Pope county, and was re-elected to the same position in 1856, serving two terms. In April, 1859, he reraoved to Metropolis, Massac county, and engaged in wharfboating, and forwarding and commission business, which he pursued with considerable success until the outbreak of the late war, when he heartily espoused the Union cause, and entered the Federal srvdce in August, 1861, as quartermaster of the Forty-Eighth Regiment, Illinois In fantry, which position he filled with great credit until June, 1862, when he was compelled to resign on account of serious injuries sustained by a fall frora Ms horse. On his recovery he resumed his former business. Massac County. 241 In 1868 he was elected on the Republican ticket to repre sent his district, composed of the counties of Massac, Pope and Johnson, in the State Legislature, where he won considerable distinction, as an able, faithful and efficient working member. In 1869 he was appointed collector of Internal Revenue of the Thirteenth District of Illinois, which position he still retains, discharging its onerous and responsible duties not only to the satisfaction of the department he represents, but to all parties interested. He has long been identified with the business in terests of Southern Illinois and in most of his ventures has been remarkably successful. Comparatively few men have risen more rapidly from a position of poverty and obscurity to one of prominence, activity and success. As a business man he is eminently practical, honest and straightforward, a clear thinker, easy and affable in manners; genial, friendly and hospitable and being possessed of a reraarkable flow of aniraal spirits he is a most agreeable companion and a highly popular gentleman in society. He is, moreover, keen and accurate in his judgment of men and things, and of wonderful persistence in the pursuit of his favorite plans and measures. To this trait in his character, raore than to any other, is due his great success. His example may well afford inspiration to young men of noble aspirations. In politics he has been Republican since 1860; one of the most Influential members of his party in Southern Illinois, and the favorite candidate' of his district for Congressional honors at the ensuing noraination. He was raised under Baptist influence, but lately has favored the Methodist denomination. He is a conspicuous Mason in his locality, having been a member of the order since 1853, and of Metropolitan Lodge No. 91, since 1859. On the 16th of February, 1859, he married Miss Fannie E. Ward, daughter of the late Jacob Ward, of the county of Wex ford, Ireland, who started for the United States with his daughter when she was 13 years of age. He died and was buried at sea. She is a lady of much personal beauty, of high 16 242 History of intellectual and educational attainments, most amiable and charming, both in the faraily and social circle; and to her wise counsels and womanly influence is largely due the success of her husband. They have five children — four boys and one girl — all being carefully educated. (This sketch was written in 1876 by William M. Murphy.) As additional to the above sketch. Captain Willis was Mayor of Metropolis, 1871-72, County Judge from 1886 to 1890; raeraber of the Railroad and Warehouse Commission of Illi nois, October, 1891, and Supervisor of the Twelfth Census for the Sixteenth District, 1900. Of more local interest is his service of two ternis on the County Board of Massac county, where he has always exercised an influence in the betterment of the financial condition of the county. In 1883 he was elect ed and county orders were going at from 40 cents to 50 cents on the dollar. They were soon worth 100 cents. In 1897 he was re-elected. All his coraraissions as Intemal Revenue Col lector ,three in number, bear President Grant's signature. In the early effor-ts to secure a railroad he acted as chair man of the Citizens' committee and visited Samuel J. Tilden of New York in 1888 tO' secure his aid. While a raeraber of the General Asserably he voted for the araendraents to the Fed eral Constitution conferring the rights of citizenship upon the colored man. He is the only living resident charter member of the Gethsemane Coraraandery Knights Templar and he holds liberal views toward all religious bodies. CAPT. S. B. KERR. S. Bartlett Kerr was bom in Burnham, Me., Oct. 18, 1863, aud when a lad was brought to Metropolis by his parents, grad uated in the Metropolis High School, 1884, and from the Liter ary and Law Departments of McKendree College, 1889, with the degrees of B. L. and M. L. He earned his own education by carpenter work and school teaching. He was admitted to the bar in 1889. From 1881 to 1889 he taught school, two years of which time were spent in the Metropolis City Schools. CAPT- S. B. KERR, DR. J. H. NORRIS, Massac County. 245 At the age of 22 years he was elected as a member of the Board of Education ; in 1891, city clerk, and in 1892, was nom inated and elected circuit clerk of Massac county by the Re publican party. He was chosen secretary of the Senatorial committee of the Fifty-first District in 1884 ; Chairman in 1890, and was appointed clerk of the Appropriations Committee in the State Senate by its Chairman, Hon. P. T. Chapman, during the Firty-first General Assembly. Feburary 3rd, 1900, he received the unanimouis Instructions of Massac county for the Forty-Second General Assembly, and was nominated by the Senatorial convention at Mound City, July 18, 1900, and elect ed without opposition Nov. 6, 1900. He was a commissioned officer of the National Guard from 1884 to 1890, and I'aised a company of 174 volunteers in the war with Spain. Religiously he is a Methodist and a leading member of several prominent fratemal organizations. December 21, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Eva, daughter of Dr. James E. Gowan of Massac county, who has proven herself a raost wor-thy helpraate. They have had three children, Adaline G., bom Deceraber 27, 1892, and died Feb ruary 17, 1896; Lloyd B., bom September 28, 1894; and E. Virgil, bom June 27, 1897. DR. JOHN HARDIN NORRIS. Thomas Norris, grandfather of Dr. Norris, was born in Ireland of Scotch parentage, who with his two brothers, Wil liam and James, comprised the family, and early eraigrated to Virginia. Thoraas, about 1825, moved to Kentucky, accom panied by his wife and one child. They traveled by means of an ox-team. On Rolling Fork of Salt river he purchased and cleared a tract of land, but in 1840 carae to Tazewell county, Illinois, and died there. Mrs. Thoraas Norris was a Miss Ju dith Rodgers, a native of Virginia, who died in Tazewell coun ty. Their fainily comprised Moses, William, Susan, Mary, Thomas, John, James and Joseph. Moses, the father of our subject, was born in- Virginia, 246 History of reared on the farm, purchased a horaestead in Marion county, Ky., and dwelt there until 1832, when he sold his land and moved to Tazewell county. 111., accorapanied by his wife and child, on horseback. He chose a tract of land near Mackinaw, becarae one of its first settlers, before Chicago was heard of. In 1840 he again sold out, and sought the frontier in Iowa, but the winters were too severe, and in 1843 he went south, locat ing near Osage River, Mo., and in 1845, settled perraanently near Rolla, Mo., amassed considerable wealth, but the guerril las during the Civil War, destroyed fully |20,000 in buildings and stock. He returned to Rolla and lived there until his death. His wife was Miss Kezlah D. Tucker, born in Ken tucky, a daughter of Matthew Tucker. She died at Rolla. Mr. and Mrs, Norris were the parents of four children; John H., Annie, Sarah and Mary. John H. Norris was born in Marion county, Ky., August 29, 1830, was two years old when brought to Hlinois, attended the pioneer schools of Tazewell county ten weeks before he was eleven years old, and taught the same school at eighteen. Home was his school, his mother his teacher. The fireplace and sheet-iron lamp with 'coon oil his light. He becarae not only prominent in his profession, but was well versed in liter ature also. While engaged in teaching, he studied medicine and in 1856 graduated from the St. Louis Medical College and Keokuk Medical College, and began practice at Mulkeytown, 111., re maining there until 1857, when he moved to Williarason coun ty. In 1800 he went to Grantsburg, Johnson county, and practiced until December 21, 1863, when he enlisted in Com pany M, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, with the rank of cap tain. He served with valor on several iraportant battlefields and was mustered out in August, 1865. Returning to Grants burg, he continued to practice medicine until one year later when he moved to Vienna, Johnson county. Here he lived until 1870, when he went to Carmi, III., practiced one year, re turned to Vienna, and remained there until 1872. In that year he moved to Metropolis, Massac county, his Massac County. 247 permanent residence, where he enjoyed a wide practice until his death, Aug. 13, 1896. His first wife was Miss Martha Mc Mahan, who died in 1870. He afterwards married Miss Celia Handley of Carmi, who died in 1881. In 1882 he married Miss Anna Lukins, Metropolis, 111. Three children, Miscal, Peter Hoche and Lillian, widow of P. J. Carson, survive; Mrs. Belle Jacobs, Metropolis, is a daughter of the second marriage; and John H., Jr., is the only child of the last marriage. Doctor Norris was a valuable meraber of society. He was an Odd Fellow, Knight of Pythias, and Grand Array member. He died a raember of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his chosen profession he excelled. Always abreast of the times, he was a raeraber and secretary of the Massac County Medical Society; Vice-President of the Southern Medical Society, and a member of the Southwestern Medical Society. His big heart led him to do rauch practice for the poor, and a number of young physicians, now active practitioners, remember well his noble qualities. Politically, the Doctor was an ardent Republican, and I)reslded over a nuraber of important conventions, as he was an exceptional presiding officer. He was Mayor of Metropolis four times. His goodness of heart made him raany friends. His death was a public calamity and the iraraense throng at tendant at his funeral proved the place he held in the people's affections. ROBERT C. BARHAM. Charles Barbara, grandfather of Robert C, was a pioneer Virginian. Nathan Barbara, the father, with three brothers, James, Daniel and Charles, were born in Virginia. When Nathan was sraall his parents moved to Guilford county. North Carolina; was there reared, inherited the homestead, married, and died there, Dec. 30, 1855, aged 76 years. His maternal grandfather was Captain Joel Harris, born in Virginia, a farmer, and captain of a company of Revolution ary soldiers, who fought at Guilford Court House. Captain 248 History of Harris married Margary Kenedy, bom in Virginia, and died on the old homestead, Guilford county. North Carolina, 1864, leaving seven children. Captain Harris' daughter, Elizabeth, married Nathan Barbara. Robert C. Barham, their son, was born August 8, 1837, in Guilford county, North Carolina, attended subscription schools, and took a course in the Oak Ridge Institute. At nineteen he went to Tennessee, taught school in McNairy and Weakly counties, for two years, and in 1862 entered the Union service as a scout, and continued under Generals Ashbeck, Sraith, Meredith, Hicks and Payne until 1864, serving in Ken tucky, Tennessee and Missouri. In 1863 he married Miss Mary M., daughter of Thomas A. and Jane McMichael, who was born in Guilford county. North Carolina. He brought his wife to Massac county in 1863, and joined her after the war closed. They have two daughters, Josephine, wife of George M. Clark, and Lydia, wife of Judge George Sawyers. Mr. Barham first taught school upon his arrival in Massac county. In 1867 he opened a carriage and wagon factory at New Columbia, Illinois, and engaged as a carpenter until 1876, when he sold his interests and came to Metropolis. He was county comraisisoner, and was instrumental in raising county orders from 40 cents to par value. In 1890 he was elected sheriff of Massac county, making an efficient officer. Relig iously he and his wife are Baptists ; politically he is intensely Republican, and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, Mason and Knight of Pythias. TILLMAN ROBY. Tillman Roby, tiie oldest citizen of Massac county, was born in Kentucky, near Lexington, June 21, 1809. When one year old his parents took him to Clark county, Ind., where they stayed until he was nine years old, when he was taken back to Mead county, Ky., and reraained about two years. They then moved to Harrison county, Indiana. ROBERT C. BARHAM. MRS. ROBERT C. BARHAM. ROBY CROUP. Massac County 251 His father died soon after the battle of Tippecanoe, in which he fought, and Dec. HI, 1848, Mr. Roby came to Metropo lis. III. There were three brothers, every one born on the 21st day of the raonth. Curtis and Townsley are both dead. Mr. Roby married into a family of eleven children, and they are all dead. The wives of the three brothers were born on the 28th day of the month. In 1832 he married Miss Mary Ann Mauck, of Harrison county, Ind., formerly of Virginia. Nine children were born to them. Six are living; three boys, Townsley, now in Wash ington; W. H. Harrison, and A. F., both of Metropolis; three daughters, Mrs. Rebecca, wido w of Daniel Bowker ; Mrs. Eliza beth, widow of Daniel Boicourt, both of Metropolis, and Mrs. Margaret A. Snyder, Marionville, Mo. Politically, Mr. Roby is a Republican, was a meraber of the first city council, aud one of the first to help organize a Lincoln Club. He was its first president. He was originally a Whig. He is a raember of the local order of Odd Fellows, During his early years in Metropolis he was a cooper. From 1863 to 1882 he lived on a farm in Jackson precinct, since which time he conducted a grocery store in Metropolis, but is now too old for active labor. He has nine great grand-chil dren, one twenty-nine years of age. The picture shows him self, his son Williara H. Harrison, his grandson Curtis, and great grandson, Roby Green, son of Mr. and Mrs. SamueJ Green, Herrin, Illinois. SOLOMON J. RHOADS. Soloraon Rhoads, grandfather of the doctor, was born near Reading, Pa., of Gerinan extraction, before 1800 erai grated to what is now Massac county, and resided here a short while, his wife, dying here. The country was then a wil derness. He went to Muhlenberg county, Kentucky, after the death of his wife, early enough to be a pioneer. Daniel Hoone was his relative. Henry and David Rhoads, his brothers, alsf> settled in the same county. Henry was the first representa- 252 History of tive in the State Legislature from that county. Rachel John son becarae his wife and she died in Muhlenberg county, 1 860. Henry Rhoads, the father, was born in Muhlenberg coun ty, Ky., reared there, a natural raechanic; raarried in Ohio, and settled in his native county on a tract of land given him by his father, and built a puncheon house out of the material cut from one poplar tree which had grown upon the fann. He died on this farra, 1884. His wife was Elizabeth Morton, bom in Ohio county, Ky., daughter of Thomas and Garner Morton. Tbeir children are Solomon -L, Merton G. and Cynthia. Solomon J. Rhoads was bom near Greenville, Muhlenberg county, Ky., July 23, 1834, received his early education at Greenville, his advanced education at Bethel College, Rus- selvllle, Ky., taught school two terms, studied medicine with Dr. Williara H. Yost of Greenville, began practice in 1860, and in 1861 graduated from the St. Louis Medical College. He remained in Kentucky until 1864, when he came to' Metropo lis and reraained until the close of the war, returned to South Carrolton, Ky., and 1883, carae to Metropolis, where he has practiced until this year (1900). In 1866, the Doctor raarried Priscilla A. Jagoe, born in Muhlenberg county, Ky., the daughter of William and Miranda Jagoe. Four cMldren have been born, Miriam, a teacher; Edwin G., William H., and Klttie Clyde. Doctor Rhoads is a Baptist, a Mason, and a Deraocrat. He has been president of the Massac County Medical Society, raeraber of the Kentucky State Medical Society, and is a writer of considerable ability on scientific subjects. At present he lives in Kentucky. CAPTAIN J. F. MCCARTNEY. John and Jane (Brown) McCartney were native Scotch. who carae to Trurabull county, Ohio, 1840. Father McCartney was a dissenting minister. John F. was born near Glasgow, April 22, 1835, and was brought over by his parents. John P. McCartney was a poor boy. He bought his time of his father at |50 a year frora the age of 14, paid his own schooling, working as a janitor, and at 18 took charge of a CAPT. J. F. MCCARTNEY. DR. JAMES E. GOWAN. (See page 197). Massac County. 255 school in Western Pennsylvania. Afterward he attended Kingsville Academy, Ashtabula, Ohio, for special branches, re sumed teaching in winter and farm labor in summer. In 1855 he arrived at Pulaski station, Pulaski county, Illi nois, with 31 cents and worked in a saw mill but soon taught the neighborhood school several terms, returned to Ohio, took an advanced course in Vermillion Collegiate Institute, Ash land county, being given the chair of mathematics in said in stitution. He returned to Illinois, was elected principal .of the Metropolis schools, enlisted in the 131st Illinois volunteer in fantry at Metropolis and was made regimental quarterraaster. During the winter of 1863-64 he personally recruited 150 men, w"as commissioned their captain as company D, 56th Illinois volunteer infantry, and assigned with Sherman on his march to the sea.He was in General Herron's division sent in pursuit of Kirby Smith in Texas, was honorably discharged at Little Rock, Ark., having made a good soldier record. Returning to Metropolis he began to publish the flrst re publican newspaper, the Promulgator, practiced law and upon the death of G. W. Neeley, district attomey, he was appointed his successor in 1867 and elected to the same office in 1868. From 1872 to 1894 no more active attomey could be found any where. For seven years he published ''The Tiraes," conducted a large farm, built business blocks, led in the organization of the farmers' movement in politics, was instrumental in organ izing the First National Bank 1882, served as its president for three years, and zealously labored to build up the Chris tian church of which he has been a life long member. During the last few years he has been president of the Eighth District Missionary organization of his church. Was tendered the nom ination of governor on the prohibition ticket in 1900 by the executive officers of that party to which he adheres, but re fused, and devotes all his time to his business interests which Includes the presidency of the National State Bank, -a pros perous growing institution which he organized in 1895. 256 History of Miss Elizabeth McGee, sister of Hon. F. M. and Judge Mc Gee, became his first wife in 1859. Their children were Liz zie, now Mrs. B. F. Stroud, Seattle, Wash., and Professor M. N., of Vienna, whose sketch appears elsewhere. In 1864 Mrs. McCartney died and the captain married Miss Minnie D. Lukens of Metropolis March 1, 1806. Their children are Grace, wife of F. A. Trausdale, Spring Valley, III.; Anna, now Mrs. D. T. Slimpert; Hattie, wife of Attomey C. M. Fonts; Carrie, wife of J. N. Weaver, a teacher; Catherine, assistant cashier in her father's bank; Frank, Fred, Hope, all in Massac county. WESLEY HENDERSON OWEN. Wesley Henderson Owen was bom in Graves county, Ky., the property of Alexander Willinghame. In 1861 his father, mother and ten children were taken to Arkansas to prevent their being freed. In 1804 they were brought back after the battle at Paducah. Their raaster was going to again send thera away but his father took the faraily and ran away. On August 10th they landed at Paducah and there seven children died. Wesley, John and Walton were all that re raained. April 14, the day Al)rahara Lincoln was assassin ated, they moved to Brooklyn and within a week were settled on the farm of Mr. Stockton, where they made a good crop. They rented the farra two years, then took a lease for four years, and then rented of Mr. Martin for three or four years. In 1870 he and California Prior were married and they have had four children born to thera. One girl, who died at 11, and three boys, Augustus, Frank and John. In 1880 he purchased a farm of J. H. Morris, and in 1881 his entire house and goods burned. Although in debt, he has struggled along and paid it off. In 1876 his mother died and in 1896 his father died. In January, 1896, he joined the Baptist church, of which his wife had been a raember since 1873. Mr. Owen is very intelligent, industrious and well read. He speaks fluently and writes quite well. No one ever questions his honor, honesty and voracity. He is an estimable citizen. Massac County. 257 REV. BENJAMIN C. SWAN, D. D. The following sketch is taken from "The Presbyterian Ministerial Directory," a book published by the Rev. E. S. Robinson, Oxford, Ohio, 1898. "Benjamin C. Swan, Metropolis, Illinois — Bom in I'reble county, Ohio; graduated at Miami University 1845; the degree of D. D. conferred 1888; attended the Western Theological Seminary 1847-48 and 1848-49, and the New Albany Serainary 1849-50; licensed June, 1850, and ordained April, 1851, by the Oxford Presbytery. His fields of labor have been, Salem and Winchester, June, 1850 to August, 1852; Carthage, 111., Oct., 1852, to 1860; Shawneetown, 1860, to 1868; Carmi, 1808 to 1877; Enfield and Sharon, 1877 to 1883 ;¦ Harrisburg, 1883 to 1888; and Metropolis, Nov., 1888, to March, 1894; stated clerk of the Presbyterj- of Cairo for 20 years." P. 500. Doctor Swan is living at his home in Metropolis at this writing, rich in years and honor as a faithful consecrated ser vant of the Lord. His dignifled bearing, venerable hairs, and robust character are an inspiration to lovers of high ideals. MAJOR L. W. COPELAND. Joshua S. Copeland, the fatTier, when four years old came with his parents frora Tennessee to Johnson county in 1808. Indians and wild game abounded and white neighbors were scarce. With five dollars he early moved to what is now Mas sac county, purchased a tract of unimproved land, cleared the same reared his family, and died thereon at a ripe old age. He raarried Elizabeth Axley and she died in 1856, the mother of ten children, Robert Van Buren, James Franklin, Simon J., Melissa, Joshua and William Riley, are all dead. Samuel L. enlisted in company K, Twenty-ninth Illinois In fantry, served through the war and was killed in the explosion of the steamboat "Cumberland," 1868; with him John S. en listed also, was discharged after the battle of Corinth and 17 258 History of died upon reaching home. Mary J., wife of Thomas Parker, Vienna, III., and JJ. W., our subject. His second wife was Car oline E. Evers, of Graves county, Ky. To them were born David, deceased; Lizzie, wife of Thomas Starkes, Massac county; Mattie, wife of Jaraes Clark, Fresno, Cal.; Maggie, widow of Jaraes McNana; Charles M., Allie and Sallie, wife of Jesse Hawkins. Lawrence W. Copeland was born in Massac county Feb. 18, 1847. Was reared on the farm, attended the rural schools, was a good observer, and after farraing several years before and after the war he turned his attention to trading. In his first trade for a fiat boat and stock of goods he made |37.50. He made a trip down the Ohio and Mississippi on a merchant boat which sank at New Madrid, Mo. They refloated it, however, and sold it near the mouth of the St. Francis river. Before he returned he had owned fourteen dif ferent boats. In 1872 he went to Kansas, liked the country, returned home for his family, but when he reached Cairo the river was frozen over and his father, who had overtaken him, persuaded hira to return to the old homestead, where he lived until the spring of 1873. At Joppa he opened a general store, eraployed as high as eleven clerks at a tirae, operated saw mills, threshers and shingle mills in connection with his business. He bought and made thousands of cypress shingles, shipping by boat loads. At one tirae he had 1,900,000 shingles and often bought 30,000 a day. He also secured the establishment of the Joppa post- office of which he was postmaster for years. In 1888 he moved to Metropolis, engaged in business, pur chased the brick block, now known as the Copeland Hotel block, a valuable property, and successfully operated it as a hotel. He is a director in the National State Bank, Metropo lis. In 1863, when only 16, he endeavored to enlist but was prevented by his father on account of his age. In 1861 he succeeded in joining corapany K, 137th Illinois Infantry, made a good soldier and saw considerable service. He has been MAJOR L, W. COPELAND. CAPT. BENJAMIN RANKIN. Massac County. 261 commander of Tom Smith post, Metropolis, Illinois; was in strumental in raising a cavalry regiment, which was tendered to the governor during the Spanish- American war, for which he holds a commission as major. Governor Tanner appointed him custodian of Memorial Hall, Springfield, Illinois, which office he has held for almost four years. This hall contains the flags, photos and sacred mementoes of the troops of Illinois. To this most precious collection Major Copeland has added raore tattered war-flags, more relics of merit than any former custodian, and has trans formed Meraorial Hall into a popular school of patriotism, vis ited by thousands from all over the world. In 1867 he raarried Miss Laura Hitchcock, a native of Mas sac county. They have eight children: Belle, wife of John Shipman; John L., Samuel, Estella, Ernest Augustus, Tony and Hilda. Politically Mr. Copeland has always been a zeal ous republican, and fraternally a Mason, Odd Fellow and ( and Army raember. ; BENJAMIN RANKIN. Benjamin Rankin (deceased) was born in Fayette county, Ky., March 6th, 1822, being of Scotch ancestry. His early education was directed by his parents and after their death he had but little opportunity to secure knowledge, being compelled to work until he had attained manhood, but even with liraited educational advantages he gained a great knowledge by experience, reading and observation. He was married Nov. 12th, 1846, to Mary Mikesell, who was born in Clark county, Indiana. After the marriage he and his wife came from Kentucky to Illinois, bought a tract of land in Massac county, and en gaged in farraing for several years. During this tirae he en listed as a private soldier and rose to captain of his company. He participated in many hard fought battles and made a good record as a soldier. After returning home from the war he sold his fann and 262 History of reraoved to Metropolis with his family, of which there were four sons and one daughter, namely: Jaraes, Bart, Ernest, Sherman and Ella. Following his location in the county seat he engaged in the business of manufacturing'tobacco selecting as his partner George Coriis. They carried on quite an extensive trade. Captain Rankin was considered by all to be very kind- hearted, never refusing to aid the poor, he possessed a strong will and was a raan of superior business qualiflcations, per haps accounting for his success. Politically he was always a republican, filling various of fices of honor and responsibility, being elected sheriff of Mas sac county and holding the office of mayor twice. Fraternally he was a Mason. His death occurred May lath, 1888. GEORGE W. WALBRIGHT, M. D. ROUND KNOB. Dr. George W. Walbright is the son of Frederick and Mary (Ervin) Walbright, natives of Lawrence county, Ohio, who moved to Massac county, Illinois, 1876, and settled near Brooklyn. The doctor was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, Jan. 13, 1865. His youthful years were spent in agricultural pursuits, while his boyhood was speut in the village, enabling him to get an early and valuable educational training which he extended in the Metropolis high school and the National Normal Univer sity, Lebanon, Ohio. He began teaching when only 16 years of age and entered the office of Halliday & Gowan to begin the reading of medi cine, which he assidiously prosecuted until he was clothed with the authority to practice the healing art. His prepara tion was raost painstaking, systematic and thorough, extend ing over two years time, which the better prepared him to un derstand the lecture course in the renowned Rush Medical col lege, Chicago, one year. He graduated from the Louisville Massac County. 263 Medical College, Louisville, Ky., in 1890, locating at Round Knob, Massac county, where he has diligently, conscientiously and successfully applied hiraself and built up an enviable prac tice. In 1892 he operated a drug store but later discontinued it. He is postraaster of Round Knob at present. In July, 1890, he and Miss Annie Kraper were married. She is a native of Massac county and a model wife. Politically the doctor is a republican and fraternally a Mason. He is a member of the Massac County Medical Society and of the Southern Illinois Medical Association, and stands in the front rank of his pro fession. He usually takes a course of lectures each sumraer in some noted school during his vacation and keeps abreast of the times. 264 History of GOLCONDA CITIZENS. HON. JAMES A. ROSE, SECRETARY OF STATE. The Hon. James A. Rose was bom in Golconda, the coun ty seat of Pope county, Illinois, Oct. 13, 1850. He attended the public schools of his native city and later the Northem Illinois norraal at Normal, III. When only 18 years of age he was teaching a rural school and met with such success that he was elected principal of the Golconda public schools. While serving in this capacity he was elected superinten dent of schools for Pope county, re-elected and during his sec ond term was adratited to the bar. He resigned the office of superintendent to be elected state's attorney of the county without opposition, and was re-elected. Governor Fifer in 1889 appointed hira trustee of the re forraatory at Pontiac and the following year raade him cora raissioner of the southern Illinois penitentiary at Chester, which office he ably held for three years, or until the begin ning of the Altgeld adrainistration. "V\Tien the state ticket for 1896 was norainated Mr. Rose was selected as the standard bearer of the office of secretary of state. His eloquence, logic, broad information and zeal told on the platforra for the suc cess of the party. Since taking charge of the office he has maide system out of chaos, indexed and arranged valuable papers previously lost, and it has been more economical ly conducted. He prepared and secured the passage of a bill which compels foreign conporations to pay a fee before doing business in the state, and has thus brought thousands of dol lars into our treasury. At the last session he secured the passage of a bill which provides for the letting of the state contract for printing all state reports, fixes their nuraber and provides for their distribution. This measure saves an im mense sum annually to the taxpayers of the state. He was Massac County. 265 re-nominated May 8, 1900, and elected. And of his record, this, the Fifty-first senatorial district, his horae, feels justly proud. He was raarried to Miss Elizabeth Michie Young of Gol conda, 18'74, and two daughters, the Misses Jessie Josephine and Helen Elizabeth, and one son, Charles Roscoe, have blessed their union. They have a pleasant home in Golconda. JOHN GILBERT JR. Mr. Gilbert was born in Golconda, Pope county, Illinois, October 13, 1833, the son of John Gilbert, Sr., an eraigrant from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Gilbert, the mother, was Miss Cornelia Bucklin, formerly of Rhode Island. John Gilbert, Jr., attended the early comraon schools. In 1874 he entered the bank as a bookkeeper with W. P. Sloan & Co., bankers. In 1877 the firm became Sloan & Gilbert and in 1889 Mr.. Gilbert purchased the interest of Mr. Sloan, the firm again changing to John Gilbert, Jr., & Co. In 1897 the flrm of John Gilbert, Jr., & Co. and the Pope County State Bank were consolidated. Mr. Gilbert is today the president and manager. Miss Edmonie Kidd became Mr. Gilbert's first wife and died in 1891. He later married Miss Lucy Morse, his present wife. The children are Raymond, Ethel and John. Fraternally Mr. Gilbert is an Odd Fellow, Knight of Honor, Knight of Pythias and Modern Woodman. Politically he is intensely republican and is the present chairman of the county central committee, rolling up the largest majority for the whole ticket Nov. 6, 1900, ever given his party in the coun ty. He served one term on the county board and has been raayor of Golconda for ten consecutive terras, an honor almost unprecedented. Socially Mr. Gilbert is highly esteemed, and in business he is a success. WILLIAM HIRAM MOORE. Andrew J. Moore, the father, was a, former Kentuckian; his wife, the mother, was a Miss Nancy A. Castleman, of Nash ville, Tenn. They early came to Pope county. 266 History of William Hiram, their son, was bom in Pope county April 14, 1862, and left horae to raake his own way in the world at the early age of 14 years. He attended the ungraded and graded schools and taught seven years. He read law in the office of Judge Crow and in 1886 attended the Wesleyan Uni versity, Blooralngton, 111. In 1886 he was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court and located at Golconda, 111., where he has built up a profitable practice. In 1888 he was appointed master in chancery for his county and held the office for eight years. In 1896 he was elected by the Republicans to the office of state's attorney, in which he has made a splendid record. He is also a fluent and forceful campaigner. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason. In 1888 he and Miss Eddie M. White were married. Mr. Moore is influential within the councils of his party. DAVID GORDON THOMPSON. John Thompson and wife (nee Anderson) were native Vir ginians and grandparents of our subject. Gordon Thompson, their son, and father of David Gordon, was bom in Giles coun ty, Va., Dec. 18, 1813, and was brought to Pope county on a visit to his widow mother, coming on horseback. Here he lo cated a tract of government land and permanently resided there until his death in January, 1892. His wife was Miss Jane Clemens, daughter of David Clemens, of Livingstone county, Ky. The Clemens ancestry were also from Virginia. Mrs. Thompson died in 1862 and Mr. Thorapson raarried Miss Loaisa J. Williams. David Gordon Thompson, youngest child of the first mar riage, was born near Golconda, Pope county, Illinois, on his father's farm Oct. 21, 1853, and reared thereon until he was 20 years of age. He attended the rural schools and finished his education at the Southern Illinois Norraal university, Car bondale, through which he worked his way, graduating with honor in the class of 1878. He taught four terms, beginning at the age of 19. In 1880 he owned and published the Herald, Massac County. 267 a weekly republican newspaper, for two years. He filled an unexpired terra of county superintendent of schools. While teaching he pursued the study of law under the direction of, now Secretary of State, James A. Rose, and con tinued his course until admitted to practice in 1884. In 1888 he was elected state's attorney and re-elected in 1892. Later he became county judge to fill a vacancy of two years occa sioned by the resignation of Judge Crow. He has always been an ardent republican, serving on the county central executive committee, secretary of the commit tee, delegate to various congressional, judicial and state con ventions, and a ready campaigner since his majority. For ten years he has been a member of the Golconda board of education, is an elder in the Presbyterian church, and a Mason and Odd Fellow. April, 1882, he and Miss Mary E., daughter of Jared Huffman, were raarried. They have a pleasant home and enjoy merited social recognition. ANTHONY WAYNE WALKER. Anthony Wayne Walker, son of Dr. Jaraes Walker and wife (nee Glass), was born near Rose Bud, Pope county, Illi nois, March 22, 1859. His raother died when he was 6 years old and his father was in poor circumstances. The family be came separated but Wayne remained with his father until he was ten years old, when his father remarried and Wayne was given a horae near Dixon Springs, Pope county, where he lived until he was 20 and began life on his own account. He saved enough raoney while working in a saw mill to pay for one year's schooling and then began to clerk for Wil liam King of Rose Bud, Illinois. After three years' service with Mr. King he was employed by J. W. McCoy & Son of Gol conda, and later with J. C. Baker until 1886. In 1886 he was defeated in the republican primary for the nomination for sheriff by only two votes. In 1894 he was 268 History of elected assessor and treasurer and gave such satisfaction That he was elected sheriff of Pope county in 1898. He is an influential republican. When defeated for the nomination in 1886 he opened a hardware and implement store and his enterprise and business ability soon built up one of the leading stores in southern Illi nois. This he sold on being elected sheriff. In 1886 he raar ried Miss Nannie E. White. They have a coraraodious home on a beautiful hill in Golconda where with their children they are enjoying life. TONY R. KERR. The parents of our subject lived in Hardin county, Ten"- nessee, when the war of the rebellion began. The father was for the union and his two oldest sons enlisted in the army of the blue. He was too old to be accepted but was so outspoken that he was compelled to "lay out," as it was then called, and flnally with his family fled to Pope county, Illinois, for safety. After the war they returned to their southern home. Tony R. Kerr, the youngest of ten children, was born in Hardin county, Tennessee, Dec. 24, 1861, and was brought by his parents to Pope county during that long and bloody strug gle. He returned to Tennessee with thera at the close of the war but after the death of his mother (1880) he returned to Pope county, laboring on the farra until November 3, 1886, when he married Miss Melissa Homberg and settled in Rose Bud. Three boys and one girl have blessed' this union. In 1889 he was appointed treasurer of township 14, range 6, Pope county, and elected clerk of road district No. 6, Pope county, in 1890, and re-elected in 1893. Harrington Clanahan, circuit clerk of Pope county, was appointed his chief clerk by Jaraes A. Rose, secretary of state, in 1896, and Mr. Kerr was elected to fill the vacancy. He was re-elected in 1900, run ning ahead of every candidate on the ticket. Mr. Kerr is a model officer, kind, affable and competent. He and Mrs. Kerr are coraraunicants of the Baptist church and have many friends. DR .J. D. YOUNG. (See page 287). ANTHONY W. WALKER (See page 267). MITCHELL PELL. (See pag-e 291). WILLIAM PELL. (See page 292). Massac County. 271 JOHN H. HODGE. George Hodge, the grandfather, was born In North Caro lina and removed to Illinois in an early day. William S. Hodge, son of the above, was born in Illinois and his wife. Miss Harriet Taylor, was born in Indiana. The father, William S. Hodge, was a leading farmer, served through the Mexican and civil wars, was corporal in the Mexican war and was with the detachment that cap tured Santa Anna. During the civil war he was captain of company E, 120th Illinois Infantry. He was severely wound ed and also spent six months in Libby prison, the Confederate "hell-hole." Retuming to his home in Pope county he was twice elected assessor and treasurer and sev eral times sheriff. January 8, 1884, he died on his farm, hon ored by his neighbors. John H. Hodge, son of William Hodge, was born on his father's farm December 18, 1861, labored thereon, attended the rural schools and the city schools of Golconda. In 1889 he attended the State norraal university at Carbondale, Illi nois, one terra, returned to begin teaching, which profession he has continuously followed with raarked success, gradually and surely rising until in 1898 he was norainated and elected County Superintendent of Public Instruction by the Republi can party of which he has always been a zealous supxiorter and valuable meraber. He is quietly and efficiently adminis tering the duties of his office with marked ability and effect. March 30, 1886, Mr. Hodge and Miss Melissa Steagall were married. She was born in Tennessee September 29, 1862, and came with her parents to Pope county. They are both com municants of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Hodge is fra ternally a Mason. They live in Golconda, Illinois. In Noveraber, 1900, he was elected president of the Teach- eis' Association, which erabraces four contiguous counties. 272 History of JOSEPH LAY. Joseph Lay was born in Johnson county, Illinois, Jan. 1, 1862. Being the son of Moses and Mahala E. Lay, who came to this state from Tennessee in the first settling up of Illinois and entered land frora the governraent known as the Bit Act. Moses Lay, father of Joseph, died at the old horaestead in 1870 and left surviving hira his widow and six minor children, Joseph being the third child, 9 years old at his father's death. Being reared by his mother at the old horaestead, he tilled the soil during the suraraer and attended the free schools during the winter until he obtained a fair coramon school edu cation. After reaching his majority not being satisfied with a comraon school education and desiring to acquire a cora raercial education, he entered Ewing college in the spring of 1883 and after a thorough course in said institution he was awarded a diploma, conferring a degree of Master of Ac counts. Returning home in the fall of 1883, not being satis fied with his knowledge of bookkeeping, he entered Bryant & Stratton Coraraercial School at Evansville, Ind.; after a thor ough course in said institution he was exarained and awarded a diploraa conferring upon hira the degree of Master of Ac counts by said institution. On returning horae he accepted a position as bookkeeper and clerk with the firm of Caldwell & Son, of New Bumsides, Ills. He gave them entire satis faction and reraained until said firm was sold out and retired from business. After this tirae he returned horae and occupied the old homestead, continued farming until the spring of 1885. On March 28, 1885, he was raarried to Rllda B. Chester, daugh ter of N. L. Chester of Johnson county, after which he pur chased a farra of 170 acres in Pope county known as the "Sampson Robinson farra," situated in township 11, range 5 East, and has continued farming ever since, raaking a fair suc cess at the business. The home of Joseph and Rilda B. Lay has been blessed M'ith seven children, five boys and two girls, HaiTy, boru Feb, 12, 1887; Lula, born Feb. 5, 1889; Coy, born Jan. 29, 1891; Moi- Massac County. 273 lie, born Jan. 2, 1893; Chester, bom Feb. 8, 1895; Ewell, born Feb. 2, 1897, and Joe, born April 17, 1899, all of whom are still living, except Lula, who died at the age of 2 years. In the spring of 1898, being desirous of seeking a new field, he came to the conclusion that he would like to be coun ty clerk of Pope county, and decided to raake the race on the republican ticket, of which he is a true-blue. After a hard fight for the place he was nominated by 60 raajorlty over his opponent and was elected in November, 1898, to the office to which he aspired. He took charge of said office Dec. 5, 1898, for a term of four years, and is managing the office with ability and success. JUDGE W. A. WHITESIDE. William Arthur Whiteside is a native of Pope county. His father was James A. Whiteside, a native of Illinois, and his mother's maiden name was Malissa E. Andrews. She was born in Pope county, where she married the father of our sub ject, who was bom Feb. 4, 1871, and attended the common schools while laboring on the farm. At the age of 18 he taught one term of school, but did not like the profession. Returning to the farm he tilled the soil until March, 1892, when he attended a seven weeks' law school taught by Attorneys Crow and Morris in Golconda. He retumed to the farm but continued reading and in 1893 entered the senior class of the law department of the Wes leyan university, Bloomington, Ills., graduating June 14, 1894, with the degree of LL. B., and was admitted to practice May 17, 1894. He then came home and clerked for his father until March, 1895, to repay him for aid rendered in securing an education, and then opened an office in Golconda as a regular practitioner. In May a primary was held to noralnate a republican candi date to fill the unexpired term of county judge occasioned by the resignation of Judge Crow, but he was defeated by only 13 votes. In the priraary to nominate a candidate for the full term in 1898 he received a handsome majority and in the 18 274 History of fall election was given the biggest raajority any candidate ever received in a county election up to that tirae. Judge Whiteside has a charming family and enjoys the home circle. He is making a good record as county judge and honors await him. HON. JOSEPH W. KING. Captain Joseph W. King was bom in Pope county, Illinois, Dec. 29, 1838. He was educated in the common schools of that day and early evinced an aptness at trading. His early life was uneventful, but when the war broke out he readily answered his country's call, enlisting July, 1861, in coinpany F of the twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, under the coraraand of Colonel James A. Reardin and General John A. McClern and, and fought in many bloody battles. After the battle of Slilloh he was discharged and imme diately raised a company known as company E, 120th Illinois Infantry, of which he was coramissioned captain, serving un til the close of the war. He returned to Pope county and was appointed deputy sheriff. During President Harrison's adrainistration he was superintendent of the pension building under General Green B. Raum, then coraraissioner of pensions, and was "written up" in the daily papers for storing a great number of bushels of potatoes and selling thera when the market was high. Captain King was elected by the republicans to the for tieth General Assembly of Illinois from the Fifty-first Senator ial district and served with ability. Twice since he has re ceived the instructions of his home and other counties for the same office, but political fortune favored other counties in conventions. During the forty-first General Assembly he was superintendent of ventilation, a responsible position in the house. He took a boat load of chickens to Cuba in 1876 and merchandised extensively between Galconda and New Or leans. Fraternally the captain is a Mason and member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has a happy home, com- JUDGE W. A. WHITESIDE. JOSEPH W. KING. Massac County. 277 posed of a devoted wife and ten children — five kings and flve queens, and his big heart is known throughout the realm. CHARLES DURFEE. Charles Durfee was bom in Stonefort precinct. Saline Co., Illinois, Nov. 21, 1863. Dr. W. F. Durfee was his father and Mrs. Lucretia Moore Durfee his mother. Both parents died leaving young Durfee a penniless orphan at an early age. He worked hard on the farm, improved his spare moments in hard study, attended the common school, at times and en gaged in the profession of teaching in which he was a marked success. Politics has always enticed him and though not an office holder or office seeker he was elected surveyor of Saline coun ty in 1892 and has always taken a great interest in each cam paign. He is a republican and a stalwart. Under the direction of Judge Crow he read law and was admitted to the bar and forraed a partnership with Judge W. A. Whiteside of Golconda, where they do a general legal business. Mr. Durfee has been twice married and lives with his family in Golconda, surrounded by many warm friends and well wishers. HARMON L. SEDBERRY. Harmon L. Sedberry, attorney at law, Golconda, 111., was born in Smithland, Kentucky, July 6, 1878, and graduated at the Smithland high school in June, 1898. During the campaign for govemor between Governors Taylor and Goebel he spoke in 76 of the 119 counties of the state. He was a delegate from Livingstone county to the re publican state convention that nominated Governor Taylor and was the member of the committee on resolutions in that convention from the First Congressional district. In the campaign of 1900 he spoke many times in his adopted county of Pope, and frora Oct. 25th he spent the re mainder of the time in Kentucliy. It will be readily seen that his services are in demand in campaigning. ¦I'll History of For three years he was county examiner of Livingstone county and was admitted to the bar at Smithland, Ky., Sept. 6th, 1899. April 12, 1900, he carae to Golconda, Pope county, and forraed a co-partnership with Attorney W. S. Morris, which partnership exists today. MAYOR FRANK ADAMS. He is the son of Lewis and Hannah Adaras, of Hutson- ville, Crawford county, Illinois, was born Dec. 17, 1865, in Gal veston, Indiana, and educated in the public schools. At Hutsonville he learned telegraphy and gradually rose in positions of responsibility in the railroad service. He was agent at Metropolis, Princeton, Ky., and Paducah, Ky At the latter place he was not only agent but was raade cashier of the freight departraent. His railroad service covered 14 years. In 1895 he went into the furniture and undertaking bus iness in Metropolis. In 1897 he was elected raayor and re elected in 1899 by an increased majority. As mayor the water and light bonded indebtedness has been reduced |4,000.00. The old levee bonds refunded at a saving of |780 interest an- imally, a public library established, and Franklin park, so beautified that it is a popular resort for the best citizens; Washington park has also been reclaimed, while several miles of graveled streets, blocks of granitoid walks and an improved water and light plant unexcelled by any similar city stand as evidences of his administration. HON. WILLIAM H. GREEN. Willis Green, the grandfather, was one of the earliest set tlers of Kentucky, flrst delegate from the district of Kentucky to the Virginia legislature, clerk of the first district court, and registrar of the Kentucky land offlce.His ancestry carae or iginally (1630) from the province of Leinster, Ireland, and settled in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Dr. Duff Green Massac County. 279 was his son, a thoroughly educated and practical physician, who married Lucy, niece of Siraon Kenton, the noted frontiers man, of Scotch descent. William Henry Green, son of Dr. and Mrs. Duff Green, was bom Dec. 8, 1830, in Boyle county, Ky. He secured a classical education at Centre college, Danville, Ky., of which institution his learned uncle, Rev. Lewis W. Green, D. D., was president. In 1847 the family raoved to Mount Vernon, III., where Dr. Green practiced his profession until his deatli, 1857. When 17 young Williara Henry began life on his own ac count, taught school in Benton, Franklin county, Illinois, and for three years in St. Louis county, Mo. During this time he read law under Judge Walter B. Scales, the flrst judge as signed to the bench of Massac county, and chief justice of the suprerae court of Illinois. In 1852 he was adraitted to the bar and practiced about a year in Jefferson county, when he re moved to Metropolis, III., enjoying a lucrative practice for ten years and purchased large tracts of land, among them "Old Ft. Massac." In 1858 as a demoerat he was elected a member of the House in the twenty-first General Assembly from the Second Senatorial district. Speaker Williara R. Morrison appointed hira chairraan of the coraraittee on judiciary and he bcarae a leader of his party and an adrairer of Stephen A. Douglas, who was elected tinited States Senator. In 1860 he was re turned but his party was in the minority of which side he be came the leader. In 1863 he was elected to the Senate and was his party's leader in that body on committees and on the floor of the Senate. In 1865 he was elected circuit judge iu tho third judicial circuit and served three years. Excepting this interval he has been district attorney for the Illinois Central railroad. He was a delegate to the national conventions of his party during 1860, '64 and '68 and a raember of the state central committee for years. Since 1861 he has been appointed and re-appointed a meraber of the State Board of Education. He is a strong believer in the principles of the christian religion 28o History of and a vigorous defender of the sarae. In 1854 he raarried Miss Ann L. Hughes, daughter of James R. Hughes, of Morganfleld, Ky., who is the raother of two sons. Duff and Reed, naraed in honor of ancestors. Mrs. Green died in 1865 and Mr. Green in 1868 was united in raarriage to Miss Louise Hughes, sister of his former wife. In manner Judge Green is a polished gentleman iind his conversation is sprightly, terse, instructive and entertaining, flowing as it does from a well fllled fountain of intelligence and seasoned with the wisdora of over a half century of wide experience. He is kind, considerate and modest. In the forum he is logical, resourceful and ornate. At the bar he is an able, judicious and fearless advocate, ranking araong the best lawyers of the state. HON. GEORGE E. MARTIN. George E. Martin, Mound City, was born in Osage, Frank lin county, Illinois, July 7, 1865, attended the rural schools flnished his education at the Southern Illinois Norraal univer sity, and taught school a number of years. In 1893 he was adraitted to the bar after having finished his legal education at the Wesleyan University, Bloomiugton, 111., and located in Mound City. He was elected a repr3:4enta- tlve in the forty-first General Assembly of Illinois frora the Fifty-first Senatorial district, and in 1900 was elected state's attorney of Pulaski county on the republican ticket. He also did acceptable campaign work. Deceraber 24, 1895, he raarried Miss Ada L. Read, of Mound city, and they have a happy home in her native 3ity. REV. W. T. MORRIS. Jesse Morris, great grandfather, was a Virginian whose English ancestry early came to Araerica. His son, Jaraes R., was born in Virginia and raoved to West Tennessee, entered land, was a slave holder, and died there. His son, Milton D., HON. GEORGE E. MARTIN. REV. W. T, MORRIS. Massac County. 283 was bom in Weakley county, Tennessee, Dec. 31, 1828, was reared on a farm and was also a teacher of vocal music. In 1865 he moved to McCracken county, Ky., near Paducah, thence to Illinois, near Hillerman, Massac county, in about 1890, where he resided until his death May 1, 1897. Nancy C. Grimes, who became the wife of M. D. Morris, was the daughter of Robert Grimes, a native of North Caro lina; he emigrated to middle Tennessee, thence to Kentucky,. later Metropolis, 1868 or '69, and died on his farm near the Powers church, 1883. She is still living. William Thomas Morris, son of Milton D. and Nancy C. Morris, was bom in Weakley county, Tenn., July 24, 1853, at tended subscription schools until he came to his Grandfather Griraes in 1874, when he corapleted the coramon school course in our city schools. He aspired to the law but ill health changed his course and in 1879 he purchased and operated a threshing machine for three months, during which time 40,000 bushels were threshed at 5 cents a bushel. He had been a local preacher a year and on the day he quit threshing a call was sent to hira by Presiding Elder Wal- lar to take charge of the McLeansboro circuit. He could not go, but in February, 1880, took charge of the Liberty circuit, Enfield, III. In the fall of 1880 he entered the Southern Illinois Acad eray at Enfield and corapleted his academic education and joined the Southern Illinois annual conference in September, 1883, and has continuously grown in influence as a pastor and minister of ability, and high character, holding not only the circuits but such stations as St. Elmo, three years; Fairfleld, three years, and now in his second year in Metropolis. During his labors here the church has materially advanced along all lines and the indebtedness of the congregation for their hand some building shown elsewhere is being rapidly and surely paid. In McLeansboro he married Miss Nettie L. Summers, who died at Fairfleld, May 12, 1897, and on September 22, 1898, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Anna B. Goldburgh, of Fair field. 284 History of BROOKLYN PRECINCT. When Elijah McCormick, Sr., came to Illinois in 1819 there was a lone log cabin situated on the present site of Brooklyn, occupied by a colored family. The state of Illinois had been admitted one year. In the fifties the land was owned by Captain Davis, an early river raan, and while in his pos session was laid out as a town in 1850 and chartered by a spe cial act of the legislature in 1855, twelve years after Massac became a county. The point was then known as the Davis Landing. The early history of Brooklyn is quite interesting. Along in the fifties parties could lay out a town, place a value upon the land, deposit a plat of said town with the auditor of state, establish a private, free, or wild-cat bank, and issue paper money to the value of said lots. Men living in Massac county accordingly "laid off" the village, drew a map of the same, which also showed the railroad survey upon which they claim ed a road was "sure to be built iraraediately," valued the lots at 1400.00 an acre and Issued their wild-cat raoney thereon frora their bank, offices of which were opened in Metropolis and Brooklyn. Then it was that raen carried what was called a detector with which to corapare the thousands of dollars of fiat raoney, to deterraine the genuine. Then it was th.at a creditor dodged the debtor and locked his door at night for fear of being paid on account in currency that the next hour might prove worthless. Soon after this Brooklyn went down and did not revive imtil the war, when a slight "boom" struck the town and it increased in population but again started down hill until the coming of the railroad in 1888. Along with the railroad came the "boot-legger," who promiscuously sold whiskey to man and boy until the good citizens proposed to stop lawlessness which made the nights hideous. Accordingly Dr. J. D. Young and others re-organized un der the special charter in 1888 and instituted a municipal gov- Massac County. 285 ernment for self-protection. In 1890 the organization was changed to that of a village under the general statute and has been so conducted since. Dr. J. D. Yonng becarae the flrst mayor and served a number of terras; William Pell succeeded him for several terms, who was followed by Dr. C. A. Mozeley, he, by O. H. Margrave, and Mr. Pell is mayor at present. Brooklyn lies across the Ohio river and a little below Pa ducah, Ky. It is on the Illinois shore in Massac county, Illi nois, and is the second largest city in the county, but in point of growth surpasses them all. At the coraing of the railroad the inhabitants did not exceed 100 souls, but it gradually in creased in size and volurae of business until it has attained its present enviable proportions. Within the last three years the population . has more than doubled, the volurae of busi ness greatly increased, the quality of buildings iraproved, and the character of the little city changed. It now contains fully 1,500 people, intelligent, industrious and raoral. The Christian church is a splendid building and that body maintains a large congregation. The Methodist Episcopal church also has a neat and coraraodious house of worship. The Missionary Baptists have an organization and are a potent factor for good. The colored people also raaintain an African Methodist, General Baptist and Missionary Baptist churches. In 1870 they had no school. Four years ago (1896) two white teachers and one colored teacher instructed the chil dren. Their school houses were over crowded frames. Today they have a two-story brick, high school, heated with a furnace, fitted with slate black board and well equipped throughout with helpful apparatus and books. Professor A. L. Whitten- burg, a professional teacher of experience and good record, is principal. He has prepared a three-year high school course and presented the same to the Board of Education in a neatly printed paraphlet. The coramon school course of the state is used as the basis below the high school. Miss Anna Farrow, a graduate of Metropolis schools, is his assistant. Mesdames G. Lay Wolfe and Fannie Williamson, both excellent teachers, are the instructors of the grades. One colored teacher is em ployed. 286 History of The first Board of Education, six members and a presi dent, was elected in April, 1900. Mrs. Durham is president. The members are Andrew Utterback, O. H. Margrave, Mrs. Dr. C. A. Mozley, John Chapman, John Black and Mrs. P. H. Mur ray. They are extending every possible aid to the teachers and propose to maintain a school system worthy their pro gressive little city. The reason for this growth is due first to the character of the pushing business men; second, to the raost excellent farming community which surrounds the little city; third, to the transfer of the Illinois Central trains across the Ohio river at this point, and the location of their extensive train yards there; and fourth, to the fact that it has been made the trans fer point of freight frora the stearaboats to the railroad for northern raarkets and especially the greatest distributing point for railroad ties in the world. These are raade on the timberlands of the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Wabash and either rafted or shipped in huge barges to Brooklyn to be transferred by the millions to the railroads. Over five thousand dollars each week are paid the tie laborers in wages. At one time 32 stearaboats were moving about the wharf while the author counted nine on Nov. 20, 1900, and this is below the a-serage daily number to be seen there. The United States dredge boat is now lengthening the harbor. The Brooklyn Eagle, a six coluran quarto, was established by Messrs. Page and Wolfe in August, 1898, and is still pub lished by the latter, G. Lay Wolfe. It has a large circulation and has been a material aid in the development of Brooklyn. The character of the buildings has undergone a marvelous change. Frora the average river town house of logs, boards, etc., there are being erected at any time from three to ten modern frarae dwellings, while lately J. R. Sraith & Sons of Paducah have erected a coraraodious three apartment, two- story brick business house to be occupied by the Utterback Brothers. Several more will be built in the spring. It is a question of only a short tirae when a bank will also be insti tuted. Massac County. 287 The present hustling village board is composed of Wil liam Pell, mayor; O. M. Morglln, city clerk; Felix Kalbacker, treasurer; R. B. Lytton, raarshal; police raagistrate. Judge Deegan; Messrs. J. L. Massie, A. M. J. Todd, P. H. Murray, G. W. Russel, John Chapman and Joseph Phillips, aldermen. They meet the evening of the first Tuesday of each month. Andrew Utterback and Butterworth conduct an extensive grocery as does also C. Marshal; A. P. Utterback & Co. have conducted a large dry goods and furnishing store for c-everal years; J. L. Massie maintains an imraense general store, as do also O. S. Butler and John Chapman; Smith Utterback sells a flne line of hardware exclusively, while J. L. Bang keeps the furniture store; Felix Kalbacker is the baker and grocer; Mrs. J. E. Dinginan and E. McCorraick each have a stock of general raerchandise; Dr. M. M. Glass and E. Baugh each con duct first-class drug stores; Jacob Fry is the proprietor and operator of the Brooklyn flouring mills. There are two barber shops, four saloons, the Brooklyn cedar post factory, A. J. Weaver's livery stable, the round house, offices of the Ayre & Lord Tie Company, the William Dugger and H. W. Meyer hotels, Drs. Young, Johnson, Mozeley, Dodd and Glass, prac ticing Physicians; Attorney Henley, and as a most important factor, Jasper xMargrave, real estate agent. The largest private enterprise is the milling interest of 0. H. Margrave, ex-raayor of Brooklyn. Mr. Margrave began with a saw raill on the river front, cutting building and wagon tirabers. He has by business sagacity and energy gradually expanded until he is now constructing a large saw mill and planing mill of enormous capacity, which will be a great as sistance to the city. Today Brooklyn offers superior river and railroad facilities to raanufacturing industries and is ready and willing to co operate in the location of the same. J. D. YOUNG, M. D. Elijah Young, father of the Hon. J. D. Young was bom Oct. 3, 1803, in Hopkinsville, Ky., of French Huguenot ances- 288 History of tors, who had formerly settled at Jamestown, Va., in an early day. He was a slave holder and raised a regiraent for the Mexican war. He wielded considerable influence politically and many politicians of wide reputation visited him. In 1885 he died in Mt. Vernon, III., while passing through that place. His wife was Anna Stilly, whose ancestry was of North Caro lina, where she was born. She married her husband in Hen ry county, Tennessee, 1841. While visiting her son, the doc tor, in Pellonia, she died Dec. 23, 1880. John Decatur Young was born to Elijah and Anna Young in Henry county, Tennessee, Oct. 18, 1844. He attended Bethel Academy one year and was principally educated un der the private instruction of his cousin, who was a proflcient teacher. Upon the death of his father, the estate was declared in solvent and at the early age of eleven years our subject was thrown upon his own responsibility and the care of a wid owed raother with three other children becarae his portion. Though never taught to labor the brave lad farraed courage ously from 1855 to 1860, when the faraily came to New Col ombia, Illinois, and had 25 cents upon their arrival. He farmed until July, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, 120th Illinois reginient, and served until the close of the war. During his war service he served six months in the prison hell, Andersonville. Returning from the war he again farmed and married Miss Lucy, daughter of Mr. Calhoun, New Colombia, Illinois. In 1868 he rented out the farm and began the study of medicine with Drs. Norris and Bratton. In 1870 he came to Pellonia and entered his profession, and matriculated in the Louisville Medical College in 1873, graduating in 1874. After practic ing successfully for the fourth of a century he retired in 1899 on account of failing health. He has been an active member of all the leading raedical societies and has been a meraber of the pension board of United States examining physicians and surgeons, and was reraoved in 1884 for offensive partisanship. Besides work along lines of his chosen profession Dr. Massac County. 291 Young was the first mayor of Brooklyn, serving several terms, member of the school board and elected president of the Board of Education in December, 1900. In 1880 he was elected by the republicans as a meraber of the legislature of Illinois and was chairraan of the committee which secured the passage of a bill to make the extensive and valuable geo logical survey of Illinois under the direction of Professor Northern. He has been prominently mentioned for state senator and congressman, but ill-health has always interfered. Mrs. Laura Adldns, wife of Dr. Adkins, and States Attorney F. R. Young are their only children. MITCHELL PELL. Mr. Mitchell Pell was born and reared in Indiana. In 1836 he raarried Susan J. Badger, who died August, 1840, and he raarried Miss E. A. Badger December 7, 1841. Several chil dren were born but died early, pjlizabeth Josephine, how ever, was bom at Rose Claire, 111., where her parents ii.ved, Jan. 8, 1844. She is now Mrs. Samuel Atwell of Metropolis. Mrs. Pell died Dec. 31, 1845, and Mr. Pell was raarried to M. A. Steele April 8, 1847, and she died March 30, 1851. March 24, 1861, Mr. Pell was united in raarriage to Re becca Louisa Patterson and they are the parents of three living children, William, bom July 25, 1862 ; Mitchell, Jr., born March 16, 1871, and Alraa Alice, born April 2, 1867, and now the wife of Phillip H. Murray, one of Brooklyn's leading citizens. Mrs. Pell still lives in the old horae in Brooklyn. Mr. Pell went to Metropolis to invoice a cargo of raeat, etc., purchased there for hira preparatory to its being sent down the river. His horse was at the home of his son-in-law, Captain Samuel At well, and while going frora the wharf to the house he was stricken with paralysis and died Jan. 24, 1871. Mr. Pell was one of the early citizens of Brooklyn, com ing before 1850. In fact, he materially aided in the develop ment of the village. He was a Methodist and republican. When he first came to Brooklyn his health was very poor. 292 History of Later he improved and opened a general store which he con ducted over flfteen years. His name is preserved in the post- office, "Pellonia." William Henry Clay Pell, oldest son of Mitchell and Rebecca Louisa Pell, born in Brooklyn, July 25, 1861, educated in the common schools, conducted a grocery for a number of years, sold out, bought the tow boat "Maggie Belle" and has for several years been engaged in the tie business. He has served his city in many ways, was elected mayor a number of terms and when the citizens cast about for a suit able candidate last spring he was prevailed upon to again serve them. Mr. Pell is a zealous and influential republican and lives with his mother in the old hoome to comfort and protect her in her old age. CHARLIE ALMUS MOZLEY, M. D. Dr. Charlie Alraus Mozley is the son of Captain J. T. Moz ley of Co. B, 120th Illinois, and Ma'rgaret E. (Worley) Mozley. His father was a native of Tennessee, who came to Grantsburg township, Johnson county and has established a splendid fruit farm. His mother, formerly Miss Margaret E. Worley, was born in Johnson county. The natal day of Dr. Charles A. Mozley was September 27, 1872, on his father's farm in Johnson county. III. He was educated in the public schools and spent his early years in agriculture. He held a teacher's certiflcate, but never taught. Instead he began to read raedicine in 1890 with Drs. Bratton and Mc Call of Vienna, Johnson county. In September, 1890, he ma triculated in the college of Physicians at St. Louis, Mo., and graduated March 4, 1892. Returning home he formed a partnership in the practice of medicine with Dr. Walker at Wartrace P. O., Old Grants burg, Johnson county. 111., which continued until he located at Hlllerraan, Massac county, Illinois, in May, 1893, remaining there three years when he located at Brooklyn, Illinois, April, DR. AND MRS. C. A. MOZLEY. ELDER AND MRS. G. LAY WOLFE. Massac County. 295 1896, and has built up a splendid practice. December 1, 1900, he graduated in the correspondence course of the College of Hygiene, Champaign, 111. From June, 1899, to July 1900, he conducted a drug store in Brooklyn. In 1899 and 1900 he was secretai-y of the local board of health, conducting the delicate correspondence with the state board during the great epidemic of small pox. In 1898 he was elected mayor of Brooklyn and served with credit. June 25, 1893, he and Miss Ella Phillips were raarried. She is the daughter of Joseph and Pernina Phillips and was born June 6, 1875, in Franklin county. 111. Mrs. Mozley has been a successful teacher and is at present clerk of the Brook lyn Board of Education. They have one child Paul Phillips, ^ born September 29, 1895. ELDERdG. lay WOLFE. Elder G. Lay Wolfe, editor and publisher of the Brook lyn Eagle, is the son of R. Jay Wolfe, a veteran of the Civil war in corapany D, 8th Illinois. He was born in Delaware county, Indiana, Feb. 10, 1859, reared on a farm and attended the comraon school. He established circulating libraries a nuraber of years and became conversant with many of our best authors. In March, 1891, he was converted and united with the Christian church at Cisne, Illinois, and on July 3, 1891, was married to Miss Minnie Truscott of that place. A desire to preach the gospel lay hold upon hira and to better prepare for the rainistry he attended Eureka college. He has been pastor of the Christian churches at Heyworth, Kenney, Vienna and Brooklyn, Ills., serving three years with the latter congregation. His strongest faculty, however, is in the evangelistic fleld, having held meetings with marked success in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Tennessee. In Kenney he purchased "The Herald," an independent weekly newspaper, which he greatly improved and sold. In August, 1898, in connection with 0. J. Page, he founded the 296 History of Brooklyn Eagle, at flrst an independent, but later a republi can weekly newspaper of large circulation and inestimable value to Brooklyn, and which he still publishes. In the late campaign he raade a nuraber of telling speeches. Mrs. Minnie, wife of G. Lay Wolfe, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Truscott, Cisne, Wayne county, Illinois, born March 1, 1867. She received a good education and early became a teacher, fllllng raany of the best positions offered by her profession in her native county, and receiving the highest commendations of her superintendents. In 1891 she married Mr. Wolfe and was appointed post master of Cisne by President McKinley. She is one of the teachers at present in the Brooklyn public schools, .giving abundant satisfaction. DWIGHT R. STONE. Dwight Roland Stone is the son of Jaines Stone, born Feb. 14, 1845, in Calloway county, Ky. His father was born near Nashville, Tenn., April 12, 1810, farmed, taught school, raoved to western Kentucky and was county surveyor. He died in Graves county, Ky., Jan. 1, 1881. Roland Stone, grandfather of our subject, carae from Londonderry, Ireland, when three years of age, and died in about 1850 at a ripe old age. His mother's raaiden narae was Paulina Hicks, born in Henry county, Tenn., about 1816, and died Dec. 23, 1880, in the same roora, where her husband died one week later. Her father, William M. Hicks, hunted and fought the Indians in Tennessee with Davie Crockett. His father was killed by the Tories in South Carolina during the Revolution. William Absher, her maternal grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier who was with Washington at Yorktown. Dwight R. Stone attended subscription school, labored on the farra while yonng and when the war broke out served several years with his brother as a Union scout in western Kentucky and Tennessee. In June, 1864, he enlisted at Padu cah in the First Kentucky State Guards, third battalion, com- MR. AND MRS. DWIGHT R. STONE. R. B. LYTTON. Massac County. 299 pany A, and served throughout the war. For seven months he was with Gregory. In 1870 Mr. Stone came to Massac county, located on a farm three miles from Brooklyn, which he sold in 1898 and has resided in Brooklyn several years, where he has an elegant home. In politics Mr. Stone is zealously republican, has served his community as constable for flve terms, village marshal of Brooklyn, township treasurer, 6-5, for twelve years, and is a deputy sheriff at present. February 6, 1865, he and Miss Hannah J. Congleton were married. She is the daughter of James Congleton, a veteran of both the Mexican and civil wars, and was born June 25, 1849, in Graves county, Ky. They have no children. R. B. LYTTON, MARSHAL. Solomon Lytton, Sr., was the son of Caleb Lytton, who settled on the site of Evansville, Ind., and died there. Solomon carae to Illinois in 1827 and settled in Brooklyn precinct. He later occupied a farm in Washington precinct and died in about 1877. His wife was Miss Ada Babb, daughter of Caleb Babb, of Kentucky. She died four years before her husband. They were the parents of nineteen children, of whom six are yet living. Soloraon Lytton, Jr., one of the sons, was born in Wash ington precinct May 5, 1839, and Catherine King, who becarae his wife, was born Aug. 30, 1843, in the same precinct. She was the daughter of Reuben King. They were married Nov.- 3, 1859, and have five boys: Jaraes B., Amaziah, Robert B., Charles E., Arthur and Eugene, and two girl^, Mamie and Ella. Mr. Lytton has been school director and justice of the peace. They live in Brooklyn, where he buys grain. Mr. Lytton and his father were members of the first republican convention in Massac county. Robert B., or as he is coraraonly called, '"R. B.," is the fourth child, born Dec. 13, 1866, in Washington precinct, 300 History of reared on the farm, educated in the rural schools, and early took a deep interest in the welfare of the community. He served on the school board when just old enough, and road coraraissioner of district No. 2 for three years. He was precinct committeeman on the republican county central com mittee for a number of years. In February, 1896, he went to Brooklyn and engaged in the carpenter's trade. May 3rd, 1899, he was elected village marshal and re-elected by a handsorae plurality in 1900, which office he now holds. He was elected president of the Brooklyn McKinley and Yates club during the campaign. For two years he was a volunteer in company G, eighth Illinois state guards, and when the corapany was disbanded served two years raore in the Fourth regiraent. He is a raeraber of Orestes lodge Knights of Pythias No. 268, is affable, gentle, manly and has many friends. GEORGE RUSH, POSTMASTER. Dr. Benjamin Rush was a raeraber of the continental con gress frora Pennsylvania and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. George Rush, grandfather of our subject, was a native of New Jersey, the father of Dr. C. S. Rush, who was born in New Jersey Aug. 26, 1824, reared in Philadelphia and graduated as a pharraacist and physician. For several years he practiced his profession and kept a drug store in the Quaker City, later coraing to Paducah, Ky., where he conducted a drug store. Here he met and married Harriet E. Vance about 1849. She was born in West Virginia. There eleven children were born, Charles and Owen D. live in Massac county, William V. lives in New Hope, Saline County, and Agnes E. is the wife of John S. Lewis, a leading citizen of Carbondale, 111. In 1853 Dr. Rush moved from" Paducah, Ky., to his large farm in Washington precinct, Massac County, where he built up an extensive practice. He has lived in Metropolis since 1891 and is now retired. George Rush was born May 22, 1851, in Paducah, Ky., at- Massac County. 301 tended the public schools and in 1870 began clerking in A. D. Davis, dry goods store^ Metropolis, which ie continued to do for three and one-half years. His health being bad he carpen tered, went south and thence to Corning, Iowa, where he clerked ten years and returned to Washington precinct to open a grocery store. Later he moved to Brooklyn before the railroad came and opened a store. He purchased and disposed of five different stocks of goods in Brooklyn during his experience as a mer chant. In 1891 he entered the service of the Ohio and Mississippi Towing Co. and in the fall of 1892 purchased their towboat and barges. The panic set in and property previously very valu able became practically worthless. A storm also wrecked the towboat requiring |1,400 to repair and refioat it. The out fit was sold to parties who failed to pay for it and resulted in a total loss. In February, 1900, he entered the employ of the Naugle, Holcorab & Co. as their shipping clerk. Although a partisan republican Mr. Rush was appointed postraaster by Grover Cleveland during his first term and continued under President Harrison. He was re-appointed under President McKinley. The office paid $75.00 a year when he was first ma^e postmaster. It pays $600 and clerk hire now. August 5, 1878, he and Miss Lizzie Stockton, of Phila delphia, were married. She was born and reared in that city and is a close descendant of Commodore Stockton. They have three children, Owen J., Helen L. and Herbert. JACOB W. FRY. Jacob W. Fry is the son of Henry Fry, descendant of the good old Pennsylvania German stock. His mother was iSsther Kinser, also of Pennsylvania. While married they lived in Green county, Tennessee, where August 22, 1833, their son Jacob was bom. In 1843 they moved to Johnson county. 111., locating three miles north of Vienna, and not liking the country in 1844 302 History of moved to Massac county, buying the improvement on a farm on the Vienna road near New Colurabia, and died there in 1845. Jacob W. raoved into Washington precinct in 1847. He raarried Miss Mary A. Dye Sept. 6, 1854, and she is still living. I'hey went to housekeeping in the neighborhood, but he being- of a mechanical turn of mind they raoved to Metropolis in 1856. In 1883 they went to Kentucky, where Mr. Fry operated a saw and fiour mill of his own and in 1893 came to Brooklyn, Illinois. Since then he has been connected with all forward move ments to upbuild his chosen city. He owns and operates the Brooklyn fiouring mills and does a good business. Mr. and Mrs. Fry are the parents of eleven children, all of whom are dead except their son, John W., who Ih^es at Melber, McCrack en county, Kentucky, and conducts a large raill, store and is postraaster. All his life Mr. Fry has been a zealous christian. He was converted and joined the Methodist church in 1854. In 1856 he united with the Baptist congregation at Waldo, becarae their deacon, changed to Metropolis congregation and served as deacon and trustee. He also holds those iraportant po sitions in the church at Brooklyn. LEWIS CUMMINS. The grandfather of Lewis Curaralns was Zachariah Cum mins, born in England and early eraigrated to Virginia, resid ing several years near Richmond. He and Daniel Boone went to Kentucky together. Mr. Cumrains purchased and improved a large tract of land in Trimble county, Kentucky, where he lived until 1836, when he sold everything and carae to Pope county, Illinois. Later he lived with his children in Johnson county, and died at 76 years of age. He was a soldier iu the war of 1812. His wife was a Miss Lydia Arnett, born in North Carolina, a practicing physician of repute and died in John son county. Thoraas Cumrains, father of Lewis, born and reared in Virginia, joined the faraily in Kentucky. He was a carpenter DR. JOHN T, CUMMINS. MRS. LEWIS CUMMINS. LEWIS CUMMINS. Massac County. 305 aud physician. He, his second wife and three children accom panied his father, Zachariah, to Illinois on a flatboat in 1836. When he landed at Metropolis there were six houses and the county sparsely settled. He purchased forty acres of land in Grantsburg township, Johnson county, entered 160 raore and lived there until his death at the age of 81 years. His wife was Sarah Gabbart, of German ancestry, born in Mercer coun ty, Ky., and died in Trimble county. Lewis Cummins was born in Trimble county, Ky., Dec. 27, 1824. His mother died when he was eighteen months old, was raised by his maternal grandparents and at 16 years of age became overseer of his grandfather's imraense plantation. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, later superintended his uncle's ways at Smithland, Ky,, about three years, then came to Johnson county. 111. He purchased a farm in Grantsburg township, built a log house, was successful in fanning and in 1865 entered the raercantile business at Metropolis. Septeraber, 1849, he raarried Miss Mary J. Comer, bom in Halifax county, Virginia, and daughter of John E. and Martha (Epps) Comer. John T., Zachariah, America Belle, wife of Mr. J. C. Howell, all of Metropolis and Lewis G., de ceased are their children. Mr. and Mrs. Cumrains were Meth odists. Mr. Curaralns was a Mason of raany years and at his death May 3, 1898, he was interred under the services of that order. John T. Curaralns, D. D. S., son of Lewis Curamins, was born in Grantsburg township, Johnson county. 111., Aug. 30th, 1852. He labored on the farm, attended the early schools and two terms at the seminary, clerked in his father's store and began the practice of dentistry in 1875, continuing until the present. He took a seminary course in dentistry at Terre Haute, Ind., and further pursued the work at Ann Arbor, Mich. In 1877 he graduated at the Chicago Dental college, and to further iraprove himself took a practitioner's course in 1890, and a post graduate course in 1895. JVith 32 appli cants he stood examination before the United States post graduate association and was one of thirteen who passed. He 20 3o6 History of was treasurer of the sonthern branch of the State Dental society, has appeared on the program before that body in "demonstration work" several times and is at present librarian of the society. In 1891 he was one of the dental examiners for five counties in southern Illinois and a member of the World's Colombian Dental college in 1893. For a nuraber of years he has maintained an otlfice at Golconda as well as Metropolis. He will, however, discon tinue the forraer because his practice in his home city has gradually increased, demanding his whole time. No more elegant apartments are to be found anywhere than the suite of dental parlors in the Temple building. Dr. Curaralns was raarried to Miss Luella Rankins, daugh ter of Captain Benjarain Rankin, in 1875. She was born in Massac county. 111. They have had two children, both dead. He is an Odd Fellow, Knight of Honor, and Knight of Pythias. He was re-elected alderman of Metropolis in 1900 by an in creased majority. REV. EBEN MUSE. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 31, 1839, in Alle gheny county, Pennsylvania, took his college and seminary course at Danville, Kentucky, was licensed by the presbytery of Ebenezer April llth, 1863, and ordained by the presbytery of Chilicothe, May, 1864. He was stated supply of the Mount Vernon church, 1883, and of the Metropolis church 1885-1886, when he was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church, Quincy, Mass., a suburb of Boston. This was perhaps the largest New Eng land church, nurabering about 1,700 communicants, and Rev. Muse occupied the pulpit until his death, which occurred July 23rd, 1891. July 25th he was interred in Mount Wollaston cemetery, overlooking the ocean. Of his services the Quincy Ledger said: "He was eminently successful in establishing a strong church, particularly in numbers." Rev. Muse's grandfather was a private in the Revolu tionary war and his father a soldier in the war of 1812, while REV. EBEN MUSE. WILLIAM MARTIN.- MRS. WILLIAM MARTIN. Massac County. 309 our subject, raised under Southern skies, early enlisted in the Union army in 1861, fought until disabled, was sick for a year after being discharged and gave |1,000, all his .coney, to aid in crushing the rebellion. In his le.cture delivered be fore many Grand Army posts, we find thisi noble sentiraent: "Don't forget the dead and don't forget the dying. While this is not the land of the living, but of the dying, and pre-emin ently so of the soldier. With muffled drums, with impaired bodies and aching, honest hearts we're raarching to the grave, and we trust that as in this cradle of Araerican liberty (Bos ton) citizens cherish the memories of men who died by that cradle in centuries past, so they will, too, cherish the memory of the men who suffered or died to disenthrall the manhood evolved from that cradle of Araerican liberty and regenerated it in the second birth of tears and woe." In April, 1871, Rev. Muse and Miss Laura Jones of Cen treville, Indiana, were married. They have two sons, R. Courte and Earnest E., who with their raother reside at Metropolis, Il linois. WILLIAM MARTIN. Isaac Martin, father of William, was born in Virginia December, 1802, early left an orphan but carefully reared and educated by a good Quaker faraily at Vincennes, Indiana. In 1818 he went to Lebanon, Ohio, and learned the trade of a stone raason, which he continued for a nuraber of years. In 1828 he located in Adaras county, Ohio, purchased heavily wooded real estate, cleared the same, erected a log cabin, farraed, prospered and entered Illinois land also. He married Miss Araanda, daughter of Arasiali Davidson, to whom ten children were born: John, James, Andrew J., and Isaac C, farraers in Ohio; Jane and Robinson, deceased; Amslah, a farmer of Iowa; Sarah, widow of J. C. Cockerel; William and Mary, wife of John Hannah. William Martin was born in Adaras county, Ohio, Jan. 27th, 1842, on the farm, learned to work, secured a good coramon school education. At 18 he en listed in company F, First Ohio Light Artillery, and saw hard service at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Deca- 3IO History of tur. August, 1865, he was discharged and in 1866 came to Illinois to occupy land given him by his father. Spring, sum mer and autumn were spent in clearing and iraproving the farm, while for twelve winters he taught school. Mr. Martin is a practical surveyor and served one term as county sur veyor. He has always been a zealous meraber of the Metho dist church, holding license as an exhorter. Fraternally he is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Grand Array raan, and was an F. M. B. A. February 15, 1866, he raarried Miss Marion Ellen, daugh ter of Williara L. Blair, of Ohio. They were parents of two children, Miss Annie M. and Williara I., now deceased. Mrs. Martin was born Feb. 15, 1841, and died Feb. 19, 1900. She was a most lovable woraan and an exemplary member of so ciety and church circles. HON. GEORGE W. PILLOW. Hon. George H. Pillow was born in Metropolis, Illinois. May 15, 1850, the son of Captain P. B. Pillow, then a prom inent citizen of Massac county, who bore the distinction of holding a coraraission frora the governor of Illinois as captain of the Regulators organized to suppress concerted violators of the law. When George was only two years old he was taken by his parents to Gallatin county, where he has since resided. In early years he lived on the farm and attended the rural schools. In 1868 he was apprenticed to Karcher and Scanland, spend ing fourteen years at the bench and during the latter years he read law at odd hours during the day and late into the night. He was admitted to the bar in 1882, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, which has reached far beyond the liraits of his own jounty, and he has won an enviable reputation as a strong practitioner in criminal cases. An eloquent and forceful speaker, an enthusiastic repub lican, he wields a decided infiuence in each campaign. He was the nominee of his party for congress in 1890 in the nine- XJEORGE W, PILLOW, OLIVER A. HARKER. Massac County. 3 1 3 teenth district, overwhelmingly democratic, was the nominee for state's attorney of Gallatin county, solidly democratic, in 1896, running 147 votes ahead of his colleagues, and in 1898 was nominated for the legislature, but was defeated. Mr. Pil low has many friends in this county and he has always loved his birthplace. HON. OLIVER A. HARKER. CIRCUIT JUDGE. Hon. Oliver A. Harker is the son of a Methodist minister ahd was born in Wayne county, Ind., fifty-three years ago. He attended the public schools and entered college, but left to serve in the Federal array in the war of the Rebellion for nine raonths as a private in company D, 67th Illinois Volunteer In fantry, and on detailed service in the quartermaster's depart ment at Nashville, Tenn. Entering McKendree College, Lebanon, 111., he graduated in 1866, was principal of the Vienna, 111., public schools from 1867 to 1868, read law in the University of Indiana and prac ticed his profession eight years at Vienna. Governor Cullom appointed him circuit judge in August, 1878, and the republicans have norainated and elected hira successively in 1879, 1885, 1891 and 1897. In June, 1891, he was appointed one of the appellate judges for the second dis trict of Illinois, in which capacity he now serves. Miss Siddie A. Bain of Vienna became his wife in 1870, and they have two sons, George M. and Oliver A., Jr., and one daughter, Winifred. Their home is in .Coi-bondale but the ¦^'udge has many warm friends in this county from long asso ciations at the bar. JUDGE JOSEPH P. ROBARTS. Joseph P. Robarts, circuit judge, was born March 2, 1849, in Godfrey, Madison county. III., the son of Dr. James Robarts, formerly of Philadelphia. His father was born May 5, 1814, graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1836, moved to 314 History of Brownsville, then the county seat of Jackson county, from thence to Godfrey, and in 1858 to Carbondale, Ills., where he died in 1890. He was originally a whig, was the anti-slavery candidate for the legislature against Dr. John, father of John A. Logan, became a pronounced republican, enlisted in the rebellion as brigade surgeon and rendered valuable and faith ful service. His wife was Sarah M. Crandall, raarried 1848. She was born in 1824 in Rhode Island, reared in Rochester, New York, in 1842 raoved to Brighton, 111., and died in Carbon dale, III., in 1891. Joseph P. Robarts, their son, attended the public schools and the Illinois Military Acaderay at Fulton, Whiteside coun ty, 111. He was sent to the railitary acaderay to prevent his following the array, as he atterapted to enlist at 13 years of age. In 1864 he held a comraission frora Governor Yates as first lieutenant in the academy. When he left school he sei-ved three years apprenticeship under John H. Barton, publisher of the New Era, Carbondale, worked as journeyman on the Cairo Daily Bulletin, John H. Overby, publisher, and iu 1873 established the Jackson County Era, Murphysboro, Illinois, with great success. Having read the "Burr Trial" he decided to become a lawyer, read law under Hon. A. R. Pugh, Murphysboro, and was adniitted Feb. 1880. He at once reraoved to Mound City, Pulaski county, 111., practiced law, was elected county judge, and in 1891 was chosen one of the circuit judges of the First judicial circuit and re-elected in 1897. Besides the judicial honors conferred upon hira he vas in 1873 elected assistant door keeper of the House of Represen tatives, state's attorney for Pulaski county in 1881, and in 1883 was appointed coraraissioner of the Southern Illinois peniten tiary by Governor Harailton. Always an ardent republican, he has served in raany campaigns, and has been a delegate to almost every degree of party conventions, in 1892 represent ing his district in the national convention at Minneapolis. October 21, 1875, he married Miss Lillie Ozborn, daughter of Colonel Lindorf Ozborn, commander of the Thirty-first Illi- JUDGE JOSEPH P. ROBARTS. GEORGE W. YOUNG. Massac County. 317 nois Volunteer Regiment. She is also a second cousin of General John A. Logan. Fraternally Judge Robarts is Mas ter, and Royal Arch Mason, Knight Templar, Knight of Pyth ias, Knight of Honor and Odd Fellow. He stands six feet in height and weighs 300 pounds. He Is cordial, broad minded and has many friends. JUDGE GEORGE W. YOUNG MARION, ILL, Judge George W. Young was born February 8, 1845, in Williamson county, Illinois; left an orphan at the age of 2 years; was raised by a farraer of liraited raeans, who died in 1859 leaving him at the age of fourteen without a preceptor or anyone to care for him. He learned to read and write at a subscription school. He left his native heath in 1860, and went to Cairo, Ills., where he remained for a few days and shipped on board a steamboat as deck sweeper and roustabout; afterward he became a cabin boy and Texas tender on a boat plying between St. Louis and New Orleans. In January, 1861, he went ashore at Columbus, Ky., and worked on a farm near Milburn, Ky.; for a while, when soon the war sentiment becarae so strong and violent that he was corapelled to' seek other quarters on account of his loyalty to the Union cause. He be came attached to the Union army early in 1862 and was mus tered in as a private in Company L, 8th Kentucky Cavalry, Colonel (afterward General) Jaraes M. Shackleford command ing. Was promoted for raeritorious conduct in Deceraber, 1863, to a first lieutenant Corapany E, 30th Kentucky Mounted Infantry Volunteers; afterward breveted captain command ing the company; served until the close of the war; was mus tered out in June, 1865. Carae back to Williarason county and attended the coraraon schools two years, taught school and read law;"was admitted to practice March 3, 1869, but did not open a law office on account of poverty until July, 1870. He was corapelled to teach school, and acted in the capacity of deputy assessor in 1869 and 1870. 3i8 History of Prior to 1865 there was no regular organization of the republican party in Williamson county, and it was in Septem ber, 1865, that Colonel Young with a dozen others of the stal wart republicans and ex-soldiers met in a back room in Mar ion and corapleted the first organization of the republican party that put forth a straight republican ticket to be voted for at the coraing Noveraber election, and it is to the credit of the returned soldiers, who, under the inspiration of Colonel Young, took up the question of politics, and for the first time in all the history of Williamson county the whole republican ticket was elected by a handsorae raajority; and from that time until the present he has been identified with, and worked for, the success of the republican ticket in Williarason county and in southern Illinois. The next year, 1866, the Grand Array of the Republic was organized and becarae a powerful factor in the politics of the nation. Colonel Young assisted at the organization of three posts in that year, and has the two copies of the first ritual that was used in the organization of the G. A. R., and his inter est in that organization has never abated. He has always been recognized as a leading exponent of the rights of the sur viving veterans of the late war. He was elected justice of the peace in 1873; was -lected county judge of Williamson county in 1877; was elected state's attorney of Williamson county in 1884; was elected circuit judge of the First judicial circuit to flll the vacancy caused by the promotion of Judge Baker to the supreme bench in November, 1888, and served until 1891. He Avas a candidate for congress before the republican convention in 1882, corapeting with Captain John R. Thoraas, George W. Sraith, T. T. Fountain and C. N. Daiuron, Thomas receiving the noraination. He was again a candidate for nomination before the republican convention in 1898 against the Hon. George W. Smith and ran a most creditable race and pulled a raost surprising vote, but on account of the midwinter snap convention and the strong combination of the raachine politi cians of the district being against him he was defeated. He Massac County. 319 was again a candidate for nomination before the republican convention in 1900, which carae off June 2d of that year. The history of that convention is too recent and fresh in the minds of the republicans to permit of much coraraent here; enough is known, however, to say that while the great rank and file of the republicans throughout the district regarded Colonel Young as the raost available candidate and whose nomination would be most satisfactory to all factions of the party upon the ground of merit and good politics, still by the liberal use of money thrown into the canvass by the two great machines of the party recognized as the state administration and the national administration government raachine — the forraer ad vocating Judge Joseph P. Robarts and the latter George W. Sraith — Colonel Young not ha,ving the raoney to compete with them in the hustings, the main interest in the canvass cen tered in the contest between Judge Robarts and Mr. Smith; Mr. Sraith was successful. He was raade a raeraber of the Grand Array of the Repub lic September, 1866. He was made an Odd Fellow July 17, 1869. These are the only two secret organizations to which he ever belonged. He is recognized as one of the foremost and bfist posted Odd Fellows in this end of the state, having a thor ough knowledge of the lodge work, as well as of the laws of the order. He has been a member of the grand lodge since 1874, and has held several important and responsible positions in that body, and is regarded as one of its raost vigilant and active raembers. He was married September 24th, 1871, to Miss Martha A. S piller of Williamson county. Four children have been bom unto them; three girls and a boy (the boy died in infancy), Ora, Ida and Eva. Ora married Mr. Richard Trevor, who is in the merchandise business in Marion; Ida married Mr. Williara B. Rochester, who is iu the hardware business in Marion, and Eva, the youngest daughter, who is not married, still lives with her parents. He and his good wife have raised and educated three orphan children. He represented the 20th Congressional district m the 320 History of military staff of Governors Cullom and Hamilton from 1879 to 1884 with the rank of colonel. Colonel Young is now 55 years old, and for 38 years he has ' been in active military and civil life; and has always been re cognized as one of the leading exponents of republicanism, loyalty to law and good government in this end of the state, and from his personal appearance one would think that there are many years of usefulness yet before him. He has many loyal friends and enthusiastic admirers in southern Illinois, who are ready and willing to stand by him in any of his lauda ble undertakings. In the liraited sphere of his operations we know of no man to whora the country and the republican party are so rauch indebted for real substantial achieveraents and lasting results _ as they are to Colonel George W. Young. , * * WALTER SAMSON. Frederick W. Samson, the father, was born in Prussia, Gerraany, Feb. 19, 1838, and eraigrated to St. Louis; was a vol unteer in Fifth Missouri Infantry, coraing to Massac county, and settling in Washington precinct. Miss Mary Raheu, the mother, was born in Prussia, Germany, came to St. Louis be fore the war,, lost a brother at Pittsburg Landing, and was raarried to Mr. Samson at the close of the war and with hira came to this county. Walter, the oldest of two sons, was born in Washington precinct, Sept. 25, 1863; educated in the rural schools, worked on the farm, bought an elegant fann of 200 acres in Brook lyn precinct, moving thereon December, 1885. He has a nice home with everj'^ convenience. September 25, 1887, he married Miss Lucy, daughter of Joseph C. Douglas. She was born Feb. 18, 1867, in Massac county. They have four children, two girls, Ora L., born June 29, 1888, and Anna G., born Nov. 23, 1889; two boys, FrMer- . ick W., born Nov. 20, 1893, and C. Earl, born June 15, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Samson are both influential members of the MR. AND MRS, WALTER SAMSON. MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM BONIFIELD. Massac County. 323 Waldo Baptist church and he is a member of Pellonia lodge No. 621, L O. O. F. WILLIAM H. BONIFIELD. The great-great grandfather cf our sketch emigrated from Scotland in the beginning of the sixteenth century to Cul pepper county, Virginia, and had four sons, Samuel, Arnold, William and Henry. Arnold is the paternal and Williara the raaternal grandfather. The former died in Culpepper county about 1846 while the latter eraigrated to Ohio in the latter part of the seventeenth century and settled near the site of Zanes ville, and died 1852. He was raajor to .Colonel Lewis Cass. Both grandfathers and their brother served in the Revolution ary war. Williara H. Bonifleld was bom in Muskingura county, Ohio, Sept. 2, 1834, and with his parents came to Massac county in 1849, where he has since resided. Before the war he farmed -and taught school. August, 1862, he enlisted in the ISlst Illinois Volunteer Infantry at Fort Massac, engaged in all the Vicksburg carapaign, when i\ was oonsolidated v/ith the twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteers at Vicksburg and he was a raeraber of corapany K until discharged in 1865. While sitting on the upper deck and leaning against the pilot house of the transport Iowa, opposite Greenville, Miss., a regiment of rebels fired a volley into the pilot house from behind the levee as the boat passed within fifty yards of them. Thirty-six bullet holes were made in his clothing, one bullet grazed his head and knocked hira senseless, and another glanced from a gun, which changed its course enough to miss him. At Vicksburg the concussion of a bursting shell de stroyed an ear drum and partially paralyzed his left side, from which he has never recovered. In 1857 he married Miss Sarah N. Baley, to whom were born Martha .!., David B. and Henry A., all married; Martha J. is dead, David lives ih Mississippi county. Mo., Henry A. lives in Indian Territory. His first wife died 1878 and in 1881 he married Victory Golightly, nee Thoraison, and to thera have 324 History of been born two children, Eva and Clay. They live on their ele gant farra three and one-half railes frora Brooklyn, 111. All are members of the Christian church and since the second election of Lincoln, 'Squire Bonifield has voted the straight republican ticket. He is broad and liberal minded. CHARLES W. TEITLOFF. (deceased). Charles W. Teitloff was born in Germany, 1842, and was brought to New York City at the age of 12 years by his par ents in 1854, where they remained one year; carae to Pope county, Illinois, and entered land. Here both parents died. Mr. Teitloff enlisted in company B, Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, in 1861, fought in many severe battles and was honorably discharged Aug. 25, 1864. He returned to Pope county and began farming. On March 26, 1865, he was raarried to Clementine Hopson, daughter of John R. Hop- son, a pioneer of Massac county. He entered land in 1838 on which he died, 1851. He taught in winter and farmed in sura raer. Clementine, his daughter, was born in Massac county and joined the Methodist Episcopal church at 16 years of age. Mr. Teitloff and wife lived two years in Pope county with her memberhsip in the Cave Spring M. E. church. Tliey moved to Miland, Tenn., and engaged in the butcher business, and after three years reraoved to Pope county, where they re raained two years and carae to Massac county, purchasing a farra in 1872 in Brooklyn precinct, on which he died in 1899, re spected by all. In 1888 he was elected by the republicans as county commissioner, which office he filled with credit. Both were merabers of the Powers M. E. church and he was a meraber of Tora Sraith post. CAPT. WILLIAM H. TINDALL. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Tindall was a soldier in the war of 1812, went to Indiana and settled in Harrison coun ty. His son, Sarauel Harrison, was born in that county in 1814 or 1815. Phoebe Madden, wife of Sarauel Harrison, was MR. AND MRS. C. W. TEITLOFF. ^^P#S6.' A^ MT. STERLING CHURCH. (See page 329). Massac County. 327 born 1818, in the sarae county, of Virginia ancestry. .They were married in the spring of 1839. William Henry Tindall, their son and oldest child, was born May 31, 1840, in Harrison county, Indiana, and when seven years of age, was brought by his parents to Massac county. 111., on a flat boat, landing at Brooklyn, 111., before there was any town there. They settled in what is now Brook lyn precinct for two years, when land was secured in what is now Washington precinct, by land warrant and here the fam ily lived for years. Mrs. Sarauel Tindall died Dec. 20, 1865, and Mr. Tindall passed away in the spring of 1871, in Pope county. Young AVilliam attended subscription schools a little and says he re ceived raost of his early education of Rev. Sarauel Atwell, at night by the flre light. He lived on the old horaestead until Jan. 11, 1877, when he sold it and purchased the farm on which he now lives and which he has highly improved. February 2, 1860, he married Miss Elizabeth Berry, a native of Rhone coun ty, Tennessee, born May 10, 1841. They have but one child, Nannie, wife of S. O. Brockett, and they live at horae with the parents. She was born Feb. 15, 1869, and has a little son, Williara M. In 1862 the captain enlisted in Corapany C, 131st Illinois Infantry, and was made sergeant. After the seige of Vicks burg the 29th and 131st regiments were consolidated, Mr. Tin dall being attached to Coinpany K, 29th. He saw hard service and passed through every position frora private to captain, and was raustered out in Noveraber, 1865. Returning horae he retired to the farm, managing the same with skill. November 3, 1874, he was elected sheriff for a term of two years, and his record so coraraended hira that he was again elected in November, 1886, and always guarded the interests of the county. Unfortunately, while operating a binder in the harvest field, June 22, 1899, he was caught in the machine and lost his right limb from just below the knee. He patiently bore his severe trial and recovered. He is kind- hearted, honorable and respected. Politically, he is a republican. 328 History of METHODISM. BROOKLYN C1RCU[T. The Brooklyn circuit of the Methodist church, fonnerly Metropolis circuit as it was designated, comprises the congre gations of Brooklyn, and Powers in the country. THE BROOKLYN CLASS was organized in 1897 by Rev. S. D. Smith, a pious young minister, now deceased, assisted by Eev. J. W. Jackson. The charter members were John Chap man, W. J. Margraves^, George Rush, George Davis, George IWayo, F. W. Fulks, Margaret Lynn, Mary E. Margrave, Mary Chapman, Carrie Arnold, Martha Clarida, Mary Mayo, Nancy "S'erback, Reed Lynn, Annie Davis, Ethel Margraves, and Cora Pride. The official board was composed of W. J. Margraves, John Chapman and George Rush. Rev. S. D. Smith was their pas tor until the conference year, 1897, when Rev. W. D. Hopkins was assigned and was quite successful. Rev. S. O. Sheridan was assigned by the conference for 1898 and returned. He more than trebled the merabership. Under the rainistry of Rev. Mr. Hopkins a church was started and dedicated under the ministry of Rev. Sheridan, by Rev. J. W. Jackson, September, 1899. The building is neat, substantial and a credit to the little band of faithful workers. POWERS CHURCH is older than its sister church of Brooklyn. From October, 1888, Rev. P. J. Davis served until October, 1899; G. W. Lauderdale to 1890; F. M. Brooks to Brooks to 1891; John R. Reef to 1892; Thoraas O. Holley to 1893; H. J. Davis to 1894; J. H. Bennett to 1895; A. R. Red man to 1896; S. D. Sraith to 1897; W. D. Hopkins to 1898; S. O. Sheridan to 1900. From 1895 to 1897 the congregation coraposed of raany ol the very best citizens of the coraraunity, built a neat and com mendable little church costing over |1,000, which is about four miles from Metropolis. Tho official members are William Dye, Hon. F. M. Armstrong, M. B. Hutchinson, Henry Arnes- raan, Sr., and Charles R. Otey. Massac County. 329 CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANISM IN MASSAC COUNTY. Rev. R. L. McElree in 1861 or '62 organized the flrst Cum berland Presbyterian church ever established in Massac coun ty. It consisted of fourteen members and maintained its or ganization a few years; holding its meetings in a school house in Jackson precinct, which had been enlarged for the purpose by building a shed covered by clap-boards and "boxed in" with rough lumber and attached to the school house in front, there by raaldng it necessary for the rainister tO' stand in the door of the school house and preach right and left to his audience, as some were in the house and some in the shed. Rev. McElree being called to broader and more proraising fields of usefulness, the church was left without a pastor, and most of the members attached themselves to either the Metho dist or United Brethren churches of the vicinity. No further efforts at organization were made by the Presby terians until the spring of 1879, when Rev. James M. Wyc koff, of the Illinois Presbytery, wrote R. Byrd Leeper asking if he thought the outlook would justify an effort to estab lish a C. P. church in the vicinity. In answer be was told that the effort would prove fruitless unless a |2,000 church house was erected right at first. That this would give evi dence of permanency and, where people have their money invested they are likely to feel interested. As discouraging as the situation seemed to be the effort was made, and within five months from the time of the first correspondence, a beautiful site just north of Unionville had been selected, the rough luraber placed on the ground and the carpenters were at work; Mr. A. S. Sterling being chief archi tect and builder. In due course of time those interested in the enterprise were rewarded by seeing one of the most commodious, substan tial and handsome rural church edifices in the county com- 330 History of pleted and paid for at a cost of |2,250.00. The better class of the whole community, regardless of church affiliations, seemed to take pride in the raovement and donated liberally as did also Paducah, Metropolis', and other smaller towns ad jacent. But few of the pioneer Chraberland Presbyterians of the church of 1861-62 were now left to enjoy their new home; but with these and other good men and woraen who came from neighboring churches and cast their lot with them, a new organization was effected Nov. 20, 1881, nurabering 13 raera bers. Under the ministration of Revs. J. M. Wyckoff, J. M. Bell, Robert M. Pryor and John Allen (the latter now in charge) the organization has continued to prosper and increase in membership until it now numbers about 100 members. LEEPER. UNIONVILLE. Robert Templin Leeper, son of Robert Leeper, a Revo lutionary soldier, was born iu Caldwell county, Ky., Dec. 17, 1800, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who early emigrated to South Carolina from Scotland, subsequently moving to Kentucky, and aided in the capture and execution of the notorious "Big Harpe," the outlaw. In 1818 he married Elizabeth Sexton, who became the mother of three daughters, and died in Hinds county. Miss., where they had gone into the wild forest on the stage road be tween Jackson and Vicksburg in 1826. After the raother died he sent his daughters back to Kentucky and was overseer of a large plantation for two years when he returned to Kentucky and raarried Elizabeth Shelby Harmon Jan. 20, 1831. Irarae diately they returned to Mississippi and opened a large farra, built a huge log tavern on the stage road, and it was fre quented by many leading statesraen traveling frora Jackson to Vicksburg. Having increased his farm to 700 acres he sold it in 1835. for $14,000.00 and returned to Caldwell county, Ken tucky, to educate his children. In 1887 his son, R. Byrd Lee- ROBERT T. LEEPER. R. BYRD LEEPER. Massac County. 333 per, found the log tavern occupied and in good repair, though near the faraous battlefield of Champion Hill. The purchaser of his father's farm was still hale and hearty. Six years were spent in Caldwell county, where he bought a farm near Smithland, Ky., then the commercial center of the Ohio valley, and after two years opened an extensive raercan tile enterprise in which all his wealth was lost and he 46 years of age. With an Indebtedness of |3,000, ill health and a faraily, he came to Jackson precinct, Massac county, entered land, three years after the organization of the county, in twelve yea,rs had paid the |3,000 and owned a home on which he died Oct. 31, 1881, aged 80 years, 10 months and 11 days. When he located in Massac county only a few scattering iraprovements consisting usually of a log cabin and rail stable, existed. A log house of rude structure used for a church and school house. Law and order were ruthlessly violated and Mr. Leeper was chosen justice of the peace, often filing com plaint, issuing and serving the warrants, trying the case and taking the crirainal to jail. Ever active in all public enterprises he was a most valu able member of society. In his earlier years he belonged to the "Old School Presbyterian" persuasion, but later lead in the organization, establishment and raaintenance of the Cum berland Presbyterian class at Unionville. Politically he was early a whig but afterward he affiliated with the democrats. R. Byrd Leeper of Unionville, aud Mrs. Corley, Jackson pre cinct, are his children. Robert Byrd Leeper, youngest child and only son of Robert T. and Elizabeth S. Leeper, was born in Livingston county, Ky., near Smithland, May 15th, -846. When he was seven raonths of age his parents moved to Massac connty, Illi nois, and settled on the farm now occupied by the said son. In fact, that part of the farm upon which the residence stands was entered by the father in his son's narae when the latter was two years of age, the patent being signed by President James K. Polk. 334 History of It would be difficult for the present generation of boys and girls to coraprehend the privations and disadvantages under which the Massac county boy of flfty years ago grew up. He considered himself lucky if he got to attend school three or four months during winter, sit on a backless puncheon bench (from which the splinters had not always been very carefully removed, weai" a homespun suit of "janes" and a pair of cow hide shoes if he were fortunate enough to possess any at all; learn his lessons without the aid of blackboards, maps or charts; with no writing desk in front of hira and no stove to warm him, rauch less a hot air furnace; having to "take his turn" in sitting by the "fire place" to warra his toes, and at dinner time if he chanced to be the proud displayer of a bis cuit or piece of light bread becarae the envied as well as peti tioned for ''just one little bite" by the majority of his fellows. At that time there was not as rauch wheat grown in the whole county as is produced by sorae one of our raany good farraers at the present tirae. Yet the boy of 50 years ago seeraed as happy, sprightly and even raore healthy than do the boys of 1900. Few country boys at that tirae cared to rush off to town, but contented themselves with horae duties and pleasures, as sisting their fathers in raising crops and clearing raore land; spending their evenings at home around the open log flre, read ing books or pursuing still further the studies taken up in school. Their isolation taught them to love home and make the best of it possible; while at the same time they acquired the habit of reading and study; the blessings of which will last thera through life. With these environraents the subject of this writing grew up to raanhood, attending the district schools until he was 19 years of age, when he attended Shurt- liff college, Alton, III., one term and on returning home was solicited to take charge of the public school in his district, which he did, teaching five terms in his home district and eight in others, always near enough that he could attend from horae. He carried on his farm operations in the meantime and MRS. MONTEREY LEEPER. Massac County. 337 having a natural love of horticulture (in which he is an author ity) he early becarae one of the pioneers in fruit growing and is still planting out a new orchard every few years. On Sept. 23d, 1869, he was married to Miss Monterey Morris of New Oi lcans, who was taken from him by death March 3d, 1899, leav ing one child, Robert C. Leeper, born July 19, 1872. Their first and only other child, Minnie Grace, dying May 28th, 1872, aged 19 months. Though one of the prime movers iu the erection of Mt. Sterling church near Unionville, and an ardent advocate of all moral and educational institutions, he reraained rather skeptical religiously until nearly 45 years of age, when the "scales fell from his eyes" and he became a raeraber of the Mt. Sterling Curaberland Presbyterian church March 29th, 1891, and was soon after chosen as one of the ruling elders, which position he still retains. Politically he is thoroughly independent, but generally affiliates with the deraocrats. Mrs. Monterey Leeper, daughter of Robert and Armilda Morris, was born in Pope county, Illinois, near New Liberty, Sept. 6th, 1848. When 11 years of age she emigrated with her parents to New Orleans, where she grew to womanhood and was graduated at the age of 17 from the high school of that city; after which she was engaged as teacher in the city schools until 1869 when she was married to R. Byrd I^eeper, settling with hira on their horae in Jackson precinct where she applied herself raost assiduously to the duties of a farmer's wife. Later on they resided four years in Metropolis, and still retaining her love of teaching she accepted a posiition in the graded school of Metropolis, teaching three terms; after which they returned to their farm and much of her tirae was given to local raissionary work in her community^ Her whole soul was enlisted in .the cause, and few, if any, irreligious persons of that vicinity can say that they never received a word of instruction and encouragement from her. None were too humble or fallen for her to plead with and 338 History of pray for, and she lived to see sorae of the fruits of her labors in the conversion of many, some of whora were far down the western slope of life and said but for her entreaties they would not have stopped to raake the necessary preparation be fore reaching "the dark river." To instruct her infant class in Sunday school was one of her greatest pleasures, and great er devotion between the teacher and pujtils never existed Though she was taken frora them by death March 3d, 1899. they never neglect to decorate her grave with fiowers many times each summer. Though removed from her church and community her good works will live after her. A faithful wife, a devoted mother and an earnest christian. Ma.ssac County. 339 GEORGE'S CREEK. NEW COLOMBIA — Among beautiful landscapes, sur rounded by perpetual springs that gush out of red sandstone, hills sits New Colombia, once the home of lawlessness, but now quiet and well behaved. In the early forties Sylvester Smith settled near and the first site laid out on his farm. During 1861 J. P. Choat came with a store. April 28th, 1862, he brought his faraily and he still lives in New Colombia, the next oldest living citizen of Massac county, having been a member of the first petit jury and the only living meraber. Mr. Choat purchased the original store of Lark and Jack Simpson, who went to Kansas. The Simpsons built a flouring raill. It was destroyed by fire in 1863, but was re-built by Lark Simpson and sold to J. P. Choat and Son H, deceased. In 1882 flre destroyed it. Jack Sirapson built the flrst hotel and it passed tO' Mr. Choat. Fire in 1882 almost destroyed the town. Among the old landmarks are: Dr. A. B. Moore, still liv ing at 75 years; William Brown, farmer; Williara F. Teague, merchant, deceased; Mrs. Clendennen, widow; Thomas John son, farmer; Nat Comer, grocer; Lark Simpson, raerchant. de ceased; Dr. R. H. Pollard, druggist and postraaster in the 60's; L. D. Stophlet, also an early druggist, deceased; J. W. Burn ett, druggist, who died lately at Alto Pa.ss, 111. In the language of the local poet, G. N. Gray: "New Colorabia was once a thriving town. And for its industry had great renown." The place was once large enough to incorporate. The name is derived from a comraon plant and ''New" was prefixed to distinguish the postoffice from another Colombia in the state. There are now three stores, one harness and one black smith shop, drug store, school, church, and saw mill. Those 340 History of in business are A. F. Nutty, John Nutty, Willis Richardson, Elijah Teague, Dr. A. T. Mobley, Thomas Cagle and Thomas Evans. SAMOTH located near Johnson county line and the name of the postoffice is a partial transposition of the word "Thoraas," in honor of Congressman John R. Thomas. Wal nut Ridge is the name of the village. The village is located one and one-half railes from New C!olombia on the Metropolis and Vienna road in a flne tillable tract of land, which contains many excellent farms. Berry Walker was the flrst owner of the farra now occu pied by the village, sold it to J. L. Johnson and went to Kan sas 1870. W. T. Cagle purchased the farm and erected the first business houses — a cotton gin, grist mill and store house, in 1873, and a saw raill in 1875. Williara Calhoun and Doctor Grissora built the first residences. Dr. Grissom was the first physician, the postoffice was es tablished 1876 and W. T. Cagle was the first postmaster. He retired in 1884 and Dr. A. T. Mobley, now of New Colombia, succeeded him until 1889 in the raercantile business. A. F. Nutty now conducts a general store but also operates the flour ing raill successfully. Madison Yandell also conducts a. gen eral store. Stophlet & McBride conduct a first-class black sraith and woodwork shop. J. F. McBride, also a J. P., is the postraaster. The physicians who have practiced here are Drs. Grissom. A. T. Mobley, R. H. Pollard, Elmore, J. W. Wymore, A. B. Ag new and J. A. Helra. The population is about IQO and the people are hospitable. RICHARD H. POLLARD, M. D. Doctor Richard H. Pollard was born in the Greenville district, South Carolina, July 14, 1819. His father was Jaraes A. Pollard, who raarried Miss Elizabeth Clarke of South Car olina. His paternal and maternal ancestry was English. When but 15 years of age the young lad enlisted in the RICHARD H. POLLARD, M. D. MR. AND MRS.- THOMAS S. MORGAN. Massac County. 343 Seminole war under Captain Campbell and went from Mont gomery, Ala., to Mobile and thence to Tampa Bay, Florida. He served gallantly through this war and contracted an acute derangement of the digestive organs. Upon his return to Montgomery, Ala., his physician or dered him to Knoxville, Tenn., for the beneficial effects of the latitude upon his constitution. In early life he acquired the rudiments of an education which he now broadened and completed by an extended classi cal course in the faraous University of Tennessee under the direction of Dr. Joseph Eastbrook, president, graduating with honors. Returning home he began to read raedicine with Drs. Fox and Saunders, being later compelled by ill health to seek a raore northerly climate. He located at Princeton, Ky., and pursued his medical studies with Dr. Throgmorton in connec tion with Young Throgmorton, a nephew of the doctor, who was later Governor Tlirogniorton of Texas. Dr. Pollard began the practice ol medicine at Princeton, Ky., and in 1855 he carae to Metropolis. Later he moved to New Colombia, 111., and thence to Memphis, Tenn., where he conducted an extensive drug store and was attacked with the yellow fever but recovered. Mrs. Pollard, formerly Miss Nancy L., daughter of Elias Calvert, fell a victim to the dreaded scourge. Only one child, Charles R., resulted from this union. He is a wealthy commission merchant of Mem phis. About 1878 Dr. Pollard went to Samoth, Massac county, where he has had, perhaps, the largest practice in the county.' The doctor is a meraber of the Christian church and a Royal Arch Mason. In 1883 he married Miss Belle English, his pres ent wife, and they have a lovely horae in Saraoth. THOMAS S. MORGAN. Thomas S. Morgan was born in Rockingham county. North Carolina, Sept. 16, 1833, of poor parents, the oldest of eleven children. His father manufactured tobacco for six years until 344 History of 1851, when he moved to Henry county, Tennessee, and con tinued in the business through 1858 in partnership with Isaac Dale. January 12th, 1858, he married Nancy J. Dale, daughter of Isaac Dale, and became co-partner with his father-in-law in the manufacture of tobacco until 1862, when he came North on account of rebel persecution, being always a strong unionist. He arrived at 'the place where he yet resides Jan. 7, 1863, with his family, prepared to manufacture tobacco, but a gov ernraent tax of 40 cents a pound raade the business here un profitable and he sold his machinery. Until 1890 he conducted an extensive wagon factory, when he sold out his shops and has farraed since. In 1890 he was elected county coraraissioner by the republicans and made a good officer. His first wife died Nov. 24, 1880, and left hira with six fraall children. February 1, 1881, he raarried the widow of Mr. R. D. Hight, daughter of Dr. J. T. White. They reside on their elegant farra in George's Creek precinct, prosperous honored and happy. JOHN WESLEY WYMORE, M. D. Dr. J. W. Wyraore was bom July 1, 1866, in Grantsburg precinct, Johnson county, Illinois. James Wymore, formerly of Kentucky, was his father, who married Miss Narcissus Deb- nara of Johnson county. They were the parents of seven chil dren, the doctor being the eldest. Three are dead, Mesdames Lucinda Davis and Nancy Ann Davis, both reside in Johnson county, Illinois; Mrs. Lydia Sturgis lives in Metropolis. Young Wymore attended the coraraon schools, private normals and the Southem Illinois Normal, Carbondale, 111. He taught three years and matriculated in the College of Phy sicians and Surgeons, St. Louis, 1889, graduating from the Marion Sims college of St. Louis in 1891 and began the prac tice of his profession at Saraoth, where he has continued and has an extensive patronage. DR. J. W. WYMORE. / / I MR. AND MRS. CHARLES D. McBRIDE. Massac County. 347 Noveraber 1, 1891, he raarried Miss Isabella, daughter of Henry and Margaret Howell, one of the most estimable fami lies of Johnson county. She was born in January, 1865. To them have been born three children of whom two are dead and one, Lannes Earl, was born September 29, 1894, yet living. Dr. Wymore has,filled all the chairs in the New Colombia lodge Noi. 336, A. F. & A. M., and is a meraber of Hurricane lodge No. 617, I. O. O. F. He owns an elegant country home in Johnson county. CHARLES D. McBRIDE. The subject of this sketch was born and bred on a farm near Samoth, adjoining the one where his paternal parent, John McBride, was born, lived and died Jan. 26th, 1899. Charles D. McBride first saw the light July 4th, 1870, the natal day of "Garibaldi, the Liberator," and the auspicious date when the courageous colonists declared their inl-^pen- dence frora the despotisra of George III. of England. His maternal parent, Sally Ann McBride, is surviving and super intending the farra. He is next to the eldest of nine children. three of whom are dead. He entered the happy state of Hymen Dec. 23rd, 1897. His wife. Rose (nee Denison), was boi'n Oct. 21st, 1876, at Eddyville, Pope county, Illinois. Her father, J. P. Denison, resides at Goreville, 111., where her raother, A.dde- ville, died March 19th, 1900. He is one of the "plain people" and by profession is a tiller of the soil, a sturdy son of toil. He believes work is real worship; that farming is the foundation for all future progress. Although not a pioneer of the county it may be fairly stated that Mr. McBride is a pioneer in the wild west of re form agitation. He is a fearless free thinker, and, perhaps, the most radical one in the county, possessing the courage of his convictions to practice what he preaches. There are cer tain schools of thought, i. e.. Unitarians, Theosophists, Spir itualists, Deists, Atheists and Agnostics; the latter term was coined by Professor Thomas Huxley of England. Mr. Mc- 348 History of Bride is an Ingersoll Agnostic. He reads and contributes reg ularly to the leading Free-thought journals of the country; namely, "The Truth Seeker," New York, and "Free-thought Magazine," Chicago, also to the "Boston Traveler," one of the oldest and best secular newspapers printed in the United States. He is always ready to vindicate his views in the press or on the platform. Politically he bolted the republican party, "the house of Hanna," during the meraorable campaign of 1896, consequently he stands today with some of the jirom- Inent political reforraers throughout the length and breadth of the country. Since Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll's death in the suramer of 1899, he thinks the most eloquent and extem poraneous orator, scholar and statesraan before the public is Williara Jennings Bryan. Mr. McBride is intensely patriotic and loves liberty with every fibre of his being; he loves the good, the true, and beau tiful, an adrairer of nature and her handiwork. He devotes his leisure to literature, is fond of flowers, poetry, rausic and painting. The above cut is an exact reproduction frora a pho tograph as Mr. McBride and his wife appear in life. JOHN McBRIDE. The accorapanying cut is a fac-simile reproduction of the features of Mr. and Mrs. John McBride, pioneers of Massac county. John McBride was born April 23rd, 1844, and is a native of Massac county. His father, David McBride, was a native of Alabaraa, and carae to Illinois when Metroiiolis was a mere village. He de parted this life April 21st, 1873. His mother, Mary McBride (nee Rushin), was a Ten nesseean by birth, who married early in life, and emigrated to Illinois with her husband. She died April 7th, 1872. His wife, Sally Ann McBride (nee Pippins), was born in Kentucky, Feb. 15th, 1844 ; her father, Guilford Pippins, was born in G ull- ford county, Virginia, and died Feb. 14th, 1846. Her mother, Sarah Pippins, (nee Mozeley), was born in Massac County. 349 Tennessee, and carae to Illinois in the early days; her transi tion occurred Octi 7th, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. McBride were married Jan. 17th, 1867. Nine children were the fruits of this union, six of whom are living, namely, J. F., Charles D.', Eliza J., Maliiis, Cora Reed, Aretta B. and Chester A.; also ten grandchildren grace this wedded mutualism. Being a con sistent Baptist, it is appropriate to add parenthetically that Mrs. McBride's belief trends that way religiously. When the blaring, bugle of war blew its tocsin blast in each patriot's ear from '61-5, Mr. McBride at the plastic age of 17 answered to the appeal to arms and enlisted in corapany K, 1st Illinois L. A., and endured the trials and tribulations of warfare for three fearful years, thereby undermining his health. Thus he was ever attended by excruciating affliction. He was a member of J. B. Sraith post No. 651. Mr. McBride shunned society and courted the tranquil retreats of solitude in the country. He was an ardent nimrod and passiouately loved piscatorial pursuits. He possessed common sense in plenty, and was honest to the point of painfulness. He was a stalwart, life-long republican. His death, Jan. 26th, 1899, made an irreparable loss to his family and countless friends. CHARLES W. BRINNEN. The father of aur subject was originally from Germany, came to St. Louis, Mo., and married Miss Henrietta Summers. Charles W., their oldest child, was born Sept. 26th, 1848, in St. Louis, attended the public schools and later left home with the 12th Illinois regiment. At Memphis, Tenn., he transferred to the 29th Illinois-, was examined and sworn but not raustered in. March 30, 1872, he raarried Miss Tlitha Waggoner of Mas sac county. He carae to Johnson county in 1862 from Meraphis and in 1882 settled at Samoth. In 1884 the republicans elected him justice of the peace. For 13 years he was a notary and in 1895 was elected county coraraissioner for Massac jounty. During June, 1900, he enuraerated the census of his pr^^cinct. 35° History of Under Harrison he served as postmaster of Samoth, 111., five years. Mr. Brinnen is a member of New Colombia lodge No. 336, A. F. & A. M., and of 617, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the encampment and Patriotic Sons of America. A. F. NUTTY. Albert Franklin Nutty was born Dec. 24, 1862, in George's Creek precinct, Massac county. His father, Gale Nutty, was a native of Tennessee, and of German extraction. His moth er's maiden narae was Miss Sarah Dunn, a native of Massac county. There were three boys, John J., A. F. and Gale Richard. Also one girl, now Mrs. Alice Ragland. Our subject attended the common schools and spent two terms at the normal school, Danville, Ind. He spent his early life on the farm. At 19 years of age he began to clerk for Sarauel Stern, New Colombia, 111., and continued in his eraploy 18 raonths. Again he attended school and engaged in farraing. In 1889 he purchased McRichard- son's general store, New Colorabia, Williara Teague becora ing co-partner with him. In 1899 he became sole proprietor of the large general store of Saraoth and the Samoth flouring m.ill and also owner of the general store of New Colombia, all of which he conducts at present most successfully. During Harrison's administration he was the efficient postmaster of New Colombia. Mr. Nutty has for 8 years been township treasurer and is a raeraber of Hurricane lodge 617, I. O. O. F. He is intensely republican. ELDER W. A. SPENCE. A. C. Spence, the father, carae frora North Carolina about 1850 and died Jan. 26th, 1886. He was an early respected pioneer of Masasc county. Nancy J. Nutty, born in North Carolina, early moved to Tennessee and was the wife of A. C. Massac County. 351 Spence. She died when Alfred, the subject of our sketch, was quite small. There are four living children. William Alfred was bom Nov. 20, 1873, in George's Creek precinct, Massac Co. Although early without a raother's tender care he eagerly pursued the studies of the rural schools and private suraraer schools, went to Danville, Ind., and extended his course at the Central Indiana Norraal School and has at tended the Southeru Illinois Normal University, Carbondale, III. He is now teaching his eleventh term, which is his second term as principal of the Belknap village schools, Johnson coun ty, Illinois. Besides teaching, Mr. Spence was licensed to preach by the Missionary Baptist church in 1890 and ordained in .i893. For three years^he was pastor of the church at Vienna, 111., and elected during that tirae to a position in the city schools. He is an Odd Fellow, raeraber of the encarapraent and Rebecca lodges. 352 History of JOHNSON COUNTY. Johnson county was established by proclaraation of the, territorial governor Sept. 14, 1812, lorraerly a part of Randolph county. It included all the country south of the Big Muddy river. Elvira was the flrst county seat. July 14th, 1813, at the house of John Brfidshaw was held the flrst court of comraon pleas, near Lick Creek, now in Union county, Hamlet Fergu son and Jesse Briggs, justices. The flrst case was Harry Hat ton vs. Harry Skinner. The flrst grand jury was Imiianoled March 14, 1814, Jaraes Finney, clerk; Jesse Eads, foreman, and the flrst indictment returned was "The United States vs. John Borin, assault and Isattery." Sarah Brunts was the flrst person indicted for illegal liquor selling. The flrst conviction was for "assault and battery," the People vs. Barnhart, flne f20 and costs. The flrst circuit court convened at Elvira on the fourth Monday of October, 1815, William Spriggs, judge; James Fin ney, clerk; Thoraas C. Patterson, sheriff; James Conway, dep uty attorney general; Jonathan Barasey was the attor ney adraitted.March 16, 1818, J. D. Wilcox and Jaraes Bain were ap pointed to locate the new site for the county seat and selected s. e. quarter, sec. 5, tp. IB, r. '3. The last raeeting in Elvira was the third Monday in July, 1818, and the county seat was called Vienna. The flrst meeting in Vienna was Nov. 10, 1818. The flrst case taken to the suprerae court was Lewis Pan- key, vs. The People, writ of error, charge, perjury. The case carae frora Pope county in 1833 on a change of venue. Sept. 1st, 1818, the plat of Vienna was ordered recorded and the first lot sold. No. 44. "Ordered that Jaines Finney be authorized to have the following repairs to be made on the house at present occu pied as a court house, to-wit: A floor laid on the same punch- Massac County. 353 eon, a chiraney of wood and a coraraon door of boards, and the house to be chunked and daubed, seats for jurors and a sraall half-faced cabin to be built adjoining the sarae and i,;liinked and daubed with partition of logs for the purpose of jury rooms, provided the repairs do not cost to exceed |18.00." At the same date Erwin Morris, the sheriff, was ordered to let the contract to build a log jail. A highway was ordered built frora Vienna to the Big Muddy and intersect the old Kaskas kia road. A tax was levied 50 cents for a horse and $1.00 on each wagon. Johnson county was made less in 1816 by the organi'^ation of Pope and Jackson counties. Union 1818, and Massac and I'ulaski in 1843. • The flrst school was taught by an Irish dude in what is now the north part of Alexander county, his name unknown. The old rude log school house prevailed. School was held in early fall and late spring, the winters being too cold for the school house accommodations and the clothing wom. Spell ing was the principal branch and the schools studied out "loud. The free schools date from 1825. HON. PLEASANT THOMAS CHAPMAN, SENATOR FIFTY-FIRST DISTRICT. Senator P. T. Chapman's father, grandfather and great gr,ifld father was successively named Daniel. The two latter came to Bloomfield township, Johnson county, from New York, their native state, in 1818. His great grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. His father was born in Johnson county in July, 1828, and raarried Miss Mary E., daughter of Pleasant Rose, of Johnson county. She was born in 1837, and still lives in Illinois. The Chapman family is one of the oldest in the connty. Daniel C. Chapman, the senator's father, died Sept. 8, 1888, and three generations sleep in one township in Johnson county. The father was an extensive farmer, polit ically he was a republican, and was three times elected sheriff of Johnson county. Pleasant T. Chapman was born on a farm eight miles from Vienna, Oct. 8, 1854. He attended the rural schools and graduated in the classical course of McKendree college, Leban- 354 History of p. T. CHAPMAN. on. III., June, 1876, and taught school, served five years as county superintendent ol schools of Johnson county, Illiuois, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1878, served two terms as county judge of Johnson county, was twice a member of .the republican state central coraraittee, was al ternate delegate at large to the republican national convention in 1896 from Illinois, was elected state senator frcmi the 51st senatorial district in 1890, and re-elected in 1894 and 1898. He is an ardent republican and has a strong hold on the affairs of his party. In the Senate he wields a decided infiuence, be ing chairman of the appropriation coraraittee in the 41st gen eral asserably, the most irapoirtant coraraittee in the senate. He is an extensive farraer and stock raiser, raerchant and banker. Is president of the Vienna Mercantile Company. President of the Vienna Lumber Co. and president of the First National bauk of Vienna, which he built up from a private bank. He is vice president of the bank of Jonesboro, 111., and the Bank of Anna, Anna, 111. Religiously Mr. Chapman is a Methodist and fraternally a Mason, being a member of lodge No. 150, Vienna chapter No. 60, Vienna, and Gethsemane Massac County. 352 commandery No. 63, Metropolis, 111. He is also district deputy grand master of the thirtieth Masonic district, and is serving- his fourth term in that office. December 20th, 1881, he was married to Miss May Cope land. She was born in Pulaski county, III. They have three children, a son, Daniel Ward, 17 years old. A daughter, Mar ion, 11 years old, and a younger son, Dwyer Clinton, 7 years old. Mrs. Chapman is a member of the Eastern Star, and has enjoyed the distinction of being grand matron of Illinois for 1899. They have an elegant home in Vienna and are among the most infiuential families in southern Illinois. ALONZO K. VICKERS, CIRCUIT JUDGE. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a pioueer of ^^'arren county, Kentucky, from whence he came, at an early date, to Massac county, Illinois, bringing with hira his son, Jaraes Vickers, who was quite young. The grandfather en tered land, opened an extensive farra which he sold and moved to Metropolis-, where he died. The son, James Vickers, also entered land and farmed. He raanried the mother of our subject. Miss Celia Smith, born March 3, 1812, near Tuscumbia, Alabaraa, where her father Williara Sraith, died. She came to Illinois in 1840. After farming several years they came to Metropolis and engaged iu the mercantile business and he died in 1861. Mrs. Vickers was industrious, frugal and possessed of indomitable will and christian fortitude. Left with an encumbered farm of forty acres, unimproved, she died May 10, 1875, in good circum stances in Metropolis. Alonzo K. was born on the farm in the Powers neigh borhood, Massac county, Illinois, Sept. 25, 1853, was reared on the farm, attended the rural schools and took an elaborate course at the Metropolis high school. In 1874 he entered the law office of Judge R. W. McCartney, pursuing his studies and was admitted in 1877, practicing for two years. In 1879 he purchased and edited the Vienna Tiraes for one year, when he sold it and again actively engaged in the practice of law. 35^ History of From 1886-1888 he was a meraber of the thirty-fifth General Asserably frora the 51st senatorial district. In 1891 he was nominated and elected one of the circuit judges of this, the ninth judicial circuit, and was re-elected in 1897. He has proved to be an able judge and has won a meritorious reputa tion in the conduct of the noted "miners' trials" at Vienna, during Dec. 1899, and January, February and March, 1900. As a public speaker and carapaigner he excels and will, un doubtedly, sorae day represent his district in congress. Mr. Vickers is also connected with important business interests; he buys stock, extensively farras, organized the Drovers' State Bank of Vienna in 1899, of which he is presi dent, and is president of the St. Lonis, Paducah & Southeast ern railroad company, organized in 1899 and is now proposing to build a line from a point in Johnson county to Paducah, Ky. In 1880 he raarried Miss Leora Armstrong, daughter of Williara Armstrong of Metropolis. They have three children. Jay Frank, Hazel U. and Louisa Edna. They have an elegant home in Vienna. Mr. Vickers is a Methodist, Mason, Odd Fel low and stalwart republican. MARCUS N. McCartney. Marcus N. McCartney, second child and eldest son of Cap tain John F. McCartney, was born Dec. 2, 1862, in Metropolis, while his father was engaged in the service of the nation in the 'campaign around Vicksburg. Was educated in the Metropolis public schools, work ing as printer during vacations on the Metropolis Times. At 16 his father severed his connection with the Tiraes and Mar cus then began spending his summer months on one of his father's farms as general farmer, living part of the time with a tenant and part with the faraily of his father, which at that tirae resided in Metropolis. At 17 he began teaching, his first effort being in the dis trict school known as Kincaid school, near the line between Pope and Massac counties. He received |25 per month. During a part of the suramer following this term he attended the Illinois State Normal School at Normal, 111., thus employ ing the raoney saved during the winter. Massac County. 357 M. N. MCCARTNEY. The winter following ('81 and '82) he taught the school at the village of Unionville at a salary of |40. While thus en gaged for the winter months he continued to devote his vaca tion time to his father's farm. During the winter of '83 and '84 he attended the little normal school, Christian Collegiate Institute, in Metropolis. The following winter he taught as principal of the public schools of New Grand Chain, 111., at |60 per month, with one as sistant. ' < During the next year he was a student in the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, being a pupil of that dis tinguished educator. Professor Alfred Holbrook. He received the degree B. S. at the close of this school year. His health, at this point slightly failing, he decided not to enter the school room as teacher at once, but contracted to work for a publishing and school supply company, in whose interest he traveled in the Southwest for nearly two years. This gave him an opportunity for business experience. Next he was asked to assume the duties and responsibility 35^ History of of superintendent of the Mount City public schools at a sal ary of |80 per month, with six assistant teachers. He had now reached 24 years. While traveling he had paid off all his school indebtedness incurred while in college in Ohio, and started upon his new du ties full of vigor and professional ambition. He graded the schools, preparing a coraplete detailed syl labus of study including a regular high school according to the Illinois plan. After teaching in Mound City three years, graduating three classes from his new high school and assisting the board of education in forming a school sentiment and building a new, large brick school house he returned to Lebanon, Ohio, and entered the classic or literature and arts departraent of his alraa raater. The following August he received the de gree B. A. and soon after was elected president of the southern Illinois Teachers' Association and the next year presided over the raeeting at East St. Louis. Even before the close of his classic year ('90 and '91) in the Holbrook University, he was tendered the chair of rhetoric and literature of the same school. He accepted but before beginning his labors in this capacity he resigned to accept his old position at the head of the Mound City schools at a salary of flOO per month. Here he worked for three raore years with eleven assistant teachers. The Mound City high school was now accredited by the University of Illinois. An other brick school house was erected and used for colored pu pils in whose advancement our subject took great interest and started for them a high school. At his request the school for white pupils was named the Lowell and that for colored pupils the Lovejoy. In 1894 M. N. McCartney severed his connection with the Mound City schools to accept a similar position in Vienna, a neighboring county seat. Here he graded the schools, con structing a course of study for twelve grades and became the planner and promoter of another high school which is recog nized on the accredited list of the State University. The Vien na school board has raised his salary and reta;ined him for seven consecutive years. He enjoys the satisfaction of having Massac County. 359 organized two high schools in Egypt. He longs to see scholar ship universal in the lower counties. In 1895 he married Ida Huckeberry, who for seveu years previously taught with him as primary teacher. To this union two children have been born, the youngest, Marcia May, only survives. In addition to school work, he does an extensive institute work in the southern counties of Illinois. Mrs. McCartney is at present proprietress of the Vienna Electric light plant. WILLIAM H. GILLIAM. Thomas H. Gilliam, the father, was a native of Virginia, where his father passed his entire life. He was bom in Din widdie county, Va., grew up and married there. His wife was Sarah E., daughter of Thomas Hill. While young he emi grated to Gibson county, then Henry county, and afterward AA''eakley county, Tennessee. Here they lived for several years raoving to Calloway county, Ky., and 1862 to Johnson county. III. They purchased and iraproved a farm in Burn side township, now the site of Ozark. Here his faithful wife died in January, 1889, and he followed on November 18th, 1892, at the age of 62 years. Williara "H. Gilliam, their son, was born in Weakley county, Tenn., Dec. 1, 1856, was 6 years old when brought to Illinois, where he attended the district schools, subsecjuently continuing his studies at Ewing college. At 19 he began teaching in winter and farraed or attended school in suraraer. He spent several months as clerk of the postoffice at New Burnside and in the circuit clerk's office. In 1882 he vas ap pointed deputy sheriff and continued in that office and in the circuit clerk's office until 1885, gaining rauch experience. During 1885 he bought a half interest in the "Weekly Tiraes" with George W. Balance, who sold his half interest to Mr. Gilliara in October, 1886. The narae of the paper is "The Vienna Weekly Times," still owned, and edited in an able way by Mr. Gilliam. He also conducts a first-class job printing office. In June, 1890, he married Miss Dimple, daughter of Henry Stewart Perkins, and a native of Howard county, Mo. They 36o History of have one child, Frank. Fraternally Mr. Gilliam is an Odd Fel low, also a meraber of the Encarapraent. Politically he is a most zealous and influential republican, wielding considerable influence with his excellent newspaper. He is the present ef ficient postmaster of Vienna. DAVID JACKSON COWAN. David Cowan, grandfather, was a native of North Caro lina. Mary Gray Cowan was from the same state. The Cow ans and Grays emigrated to Henry and Stewart counties, Ten nessee. The Grays owned over 300 slaves. David Cowan was a stearaboatraan on the Mississippi. Thoraas J. Cowan, the father of our sketch, was born to David and Mary Cowan July 13th, 1833, at Sulphur Mill, Henry connty, Tennessee. Isaac Worley, maternal grandfather, came to Johnson county from Tennessee, as early as 1808. He viewed the pub lic road from Elvira, then the county seat, to the Mississippi river in 1809. His son, Hiram J. Worley, was born in Jolinson county, Illinois, 1814. He married Vernila Graves and their daughter, Mary J. Worley, born March 9, 1842, became the wife of Thomas J. Cowan. Massac County. 361 David Jackson Cowan, son of Thoraas J. and Mary J. Cow an was bom Aug. 27th, 1865, on the old homestead two and one-half miles from Vienna, 111. He had four sisters, Nancy, Lucinda, wife of W. H. V. Waters, near Bloomfield, and Mar tha Ann, wife of William Nobles, near Buncombe, 111., and Mary V., wife of Dr. R. A. Hale, Bloomfield, 111., who died May 24, 1899; and Miss Gertrude Cowan, living at home. He also has two brothers, Thomas J., living three and one-half miles from Vienna, and John O., living at horae. David attended the public schools, the Vienna High School, and graduated in the Latin-English course of the Southern Normal LTniversity, Carbondale, Illinois, June, 1887. He taught his first term in the Rhidenhouer district, principal of the Vienna school for the year 1887-88, taught the next year near Walla-Walla, Washington, and near Ferndale, the same state, the following year. Frora 1889 he taught four terms near Sacramento, Cal. He engaged in the rush for land in the Cheroke'e strip Sept. 16, 1893, but was not favorably ira pressed. He was appointed to organize the public schools of Newkirk, county seaf of Kay county, Ok., 1893-95. This was his last teaching. While at Sacramento, Cal., he was admitted by the su preme court to the practice of law Aug. 8, 1893, and was also admitted at Guthrie, Ok. In the spring of 1895 he forraed a partnership with W. A. Spann at Vienna, 111., and has been actively practicing since. He has been twice chosen city at torney of Vienna and March 24, 1900, he was nominated by the republicans as candidate for state's attorney of Johnson county, and elected Nov. 6, 1900. While attending the normal he was coraraissioned cap tain of the cadets by Professor, now Major General, J. F. Bell, in the Philippines, and in the war with Spain raised company A of Robart's Provisional Regiment, known as the llth United States Volunteers, and was commissioned captain. He is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Rebeccas. He is a .Mason, member of the Vienna chapter and worthy patron of the East ern Star lodge. 362 History of THOMAS M. GORE. The Gores are Kentuckians. John Gore early came to Johnson county, bringing his faraily. Among them was Wal ton Gore, who was the father of John Gore, born near Vienna, Illinois, in 1827. John Gore, the father, was reared on the farm, but early turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. He purchased a tract of land in Johnson county in a division of the county afterwards naraed in his honor, Goreville township, while he built up considerable of a village which also took his narae, Goreville, and through which the late Chicago & Eastern Illi nois railroad passes. He was industrious, frugal, judicious and kind hearted. He conducted a store of general merchan dise and during the war dealt extensively in tobacco, then grown in that section. His death, in the prime of raanhood, was a public calaraity. His wife was Mary J. Bruff, born near Lick Creek, Union county, daughter of Jaraes Bruff. Thoraas M. Gore was born May 28, 1858, at Goreville, Johnson county. 111. His father, John Gore, died when his son was only 7 years old. A large estate was left, but declared in solvent by the adrainistrator. When Thoraas was ten years old he began to raake his own way in a tobacco factory for his uncle at prizing and shipping tobacco. Later he clerked in a country store and attended school at intervals, going one and one-half railes to the school house. In 1880 he became a part ner with his brother, James W., in the railling business at Vienna, but returned to the farm near Goreville in 1882. His official career began in 1888 when he was appointed deputy county clerk, succeeding as county clerk in 1894, and was re-elected in 1898 by the republican jvarty of which he is an ardent and capable member. He is also a meraber of the congressional coraraittee. He is an expert official. December 24, 1879, he married Miss Elizabeth M. Parish, who died December 30, 1896, and on May 30th, 1898, he wedded Mrs. Genevra E., widow of Ollie Sheppard, Metropolis, III. They have one child, Thoraas Tellis, born May 29th, 1899. Mr. Gore is a Baptist and secretary of the local order of Modem Woodmen. Massac County. 363 MARTIN A. HANKINS. Cheston Hankins and wife were early emigrants from Kentucky into Massac county, Illinois, where they passed their lives upon a farm. Mr. Hankins died in 1865 and Mrs. Hank ins in 1885. Martin A., the third of ten children, was born Feb. 7, 1845, in Kentucky, and came with his parents to Illinois, where he mastered agriculture and also gained a fair education in the common schools of his neighborhood. When a boy of 17 he left home to enlist in the service of his country, for which he has always had a boundless admira tion. He enlisted in cornpany A, Twenty-ninth Illinois Infan try, but unfortunately contracted the measles soon after and was so seriously affected that he was discharged. Although he almost looked into his own grave, he re-enlisted in the cavalry service immediately upon recovery, and fought bravely until the close of the war. When mustered out he returned to Massac couuty and engaged in farraing quite extensively. In early years he de veloped a rare ability as a trader in stock, especially horses, 364 History of and he engaged in this occupation for several years in various places. Later he became the owner of a fine, fertile farm in Vien na township, Johnson county, which has been his home for a number of years, and under his direction has been extensive ly improved and brought to a high degree of cultivation. In March following his return from the array he raarried Miss Sarah Leech, daughter of David Leech, a pioneer and es teemed citizen of Massac county. Mrs. Hankins has proven herself an ideal wife, revealing not only high capabilities in the raanagement of her horae, but also in a business way. They are the parents of Laura K., Jaraes, Mertie, Charles, Es sie and Alice C. In 1898 Mr. Hankins -was elected by the republicans as sheriff of Johnson county, which responsible position he now occupies, and ably administers. During his term he has de veloped strong characteristics which go to make up a keen de tective in his ability to unravel a crime and bring the guilty to trial. A brave soldier, a successful business raan, an effi cient officer, a loyal republicau, and of affable disposition, Mr. Hankins has raany friends. ' IKE L. MORGAN. Ike L. Morgan is the son of Thomas S. and Nancy Morgan, of George's Creek precinct, Massac county. III., where he was born March 4, 1872; was educated in the district school and the Metropolis High School. His boyhood was spent on the farm. When 19 Mr. Morgan began teaching, which profession he followed for five consecutive terras in the schools of Mas sac county. He has also done a good insurance business in Massac and Johnson counties. In 1897 he raoved to Vicuna, Johnson county, now his horae. During the last two years he has published an excellent map of Mapsac county in 1899, and will, in 1900, complete one of "Williamson county, Illinois. He was given first premium at the State fair of Illinois 1899 for the best county raap published in the state. December 24, 1895, he- married Miss Lillie Rose, daughter Massac County. 365 IKE L. MORGAN. of P. W. Rose, of Wartrace, Johnson county, and they have one child, Emma Opal, born May 2, 1897, a charming little girl much adored by her happy parents. Mr. Morgan is a member of Hurricane lodge No. 617, I. O. O. F. JACKSON PRECINCT. DAVID L. PARIS, David L. Paris was born Feb. 8th, 1862, in Clay couuty, Indiana, and moved to Unionville, Massac county, in 1870, where he has since resided. His education was gained in the rural schools and the farm developed a raagnificent physique. He was in the era ploy of the Mississippi River Commission and Construction Company frora 1882 to 1885. March 24, 1885, he and .Miss Alice Woods of Unionville were united in raarriage. Mr. Paris has been successively elected constable, school trustee, and twice clerk and treasurer of road district No. 1. Always an ardent and zealous republican, he was appointed on 366 History of DAVID L. PARIS. the special force of the Southern Illinois penitentiary and has made an enviable record. Fraternally he is a Modern Wood man and a member of Orestes lodge 268, Knights of Pythias, Metropolis, Illinois. CAPT. ELISHA THOMAS WOODS. Captain Elisha Thomas Woods, born March 31st, 1824, in Indiana; came to Illinois in 1847 or 1848; taught three terms of school and was a general favorite with the pupils on ac count of his amiable disposition. On March 17th, A. D. 1850, he married Miss Elizabeth Hannah Morrison. As a fruit of this union six children were born, three sons, Francis, Archi bald and Jessie, and three daughters, Jane, Kate and Alice. Archibald is residing on the old horaestead. Jessie is a suc cessful merchant in Unionville, and Francis is dead. His ster ling qualities commended him to the confidence and esteem of his fellows, hence he offered his services to his country in August, 1862, and was chosen captain of the company he was chiefly instrumental in raising, corapany A of the 131st regi ment of Illinois Infantry volunteers. Colonel G. W. Neely, Massac County. 367 CAPT. AND MRS. ELISHA T. WOODS. coramanding. Given first position in the regiment. Captain Woods was made senior captain of the regiraent. His regi ment Avas one of those unfortunate regiments that was stricken with disease, and he was compelled day after day to witness the intense suffering and distress of the brave boys he had enlisted in their country's service. His company was actively engaged in the battles of Milliken's Bend and Arkan sas Post. Soon after the latter engagement the ranks of the regiment becarae so deciraated by disease and death that it was ordered by the war departraent to Paducah, Ky., where it was consolidated with the twenty-ninth regiment of Illinois In fantry Volunteers. By this consolidation a surplus of officers had to be disposed of and as a result Captain Woods resigned his command and returned to the walks of civil life. During his term of service he contracted a disease of the eyes that remained with him until the date of his death, render ing him at tiraes alraost totally blind. Capt. Woods was nn old time abolitionist in politics and lived to see the longing desire of his heart fully accomplished. He prized huraan liberty far above wealtii, personal ambition or official distinction, and his life was that of a loyal patriot who regarded no sacrifice 368 History of too great, except that of personal honor, to raake for the good of his country. He was an active member of the M. E. church and lived an exemplary christian life. He died on the 21st day of February, 1883, in the 59th year of his age, loved and mourned by all who knew him. DANIEL RISINGER PRYOR. Daniel Ri singer Pryor, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pope county, Illinois, on the 15th day of Januaiy, A. D. ELDER AND MRS. D. R. PRYOR. 1841. He was the sixth son of Daniel Farley Pryor, who was the youngest son of Captain John Armstrong Pryor, who com manded a corapany of Virginia volunteers during the strug gle for American liberty. After the close of the Revolution ary war Captain Pryor eraigrated with his faraily to Kentucky, Avhere Daniel Farley Pryor, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. Captain Pryor's ancestors emigrated to this country from Scotland early in the settlement of the colony of Virginia, and were of that hardy and fearless stock known as Scotcli-Iiisli, and possessed to a remarkable degree that peculiar courage and hardihood characteristic cf the Massac County. 369 pioneer settlers of this country. The ancestral tree was ex ceedingly prolific and as a result the Pryor faraily are scat tered from Virginia to New York. Judge Roger A. Pryor of New York, is a descendant of the Virginia ancestors of the Pryor family, as also is Judge Pryor of Kentucky, who was a member of the notorious Goebel state election commission. On the side of his maternal ancestry his mother was Nancy Louis Risinger, the oldest daughter of John Risinger, of whose ancestors little is known beyond the fact that he was of German origin. His raaternal grandmother was Miss Mary Pikeand a descendant of General Zebulon Pike, of Rev olutionary fame. It will be seen that Mr. Pryor has a long line of illustrious ancestors, men whom the state and nation have honored with positions of official distinction. Daniel Ris inger Pryor, the subject of this biography, was reared on a farm in what is known as "Goose Neck," in Pope county, Illi nois; with the exception of five years, from 1851 to 1856 he resided with his parents in Smithland, Ky. Since 1856 his place of residence has been in southem Illinois. In his rearing he had none of the advantages of the present free school sys tem of the state, but had to depend on the uncertain an^ in capable subscription school for an education. But notwdth- standing these educational disadvantages, by dint of persever ance and self-denial he managed to acquire a fair common school eduaction. His early life was like most boys raised on the farm, rather uneventful, until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861. The exciting campaign of 1860 so im pressed him with the spirit of huraan liberty that the first call to arms found him ready to respond. He enlisted as a mem ber of corapany K, 29th Regiraent of Illinois Volunteer In fantry on the 13th day of July, 1861, but unfortunately for hira he suffered a sunstroke the following Septeraber which so dis abled him that in November, 1861, he was honorably dis charged from the service for disability to perform railitary duty. However, he was not content to remain at home in active while the life of the nation was threatened by armed rebellion, and in August, 1862^ he re enlisted in company H, 131st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but he was again doomed to disappointment as his disability prevented him 24 370 History of from being regularly raustered into the service and he was again sent horae as unfit for militarj' dnty. Broken down in health and suffering severely frora disappointraent, because of the early and unfavorable terraination of his military career, he returned to the walks of civil life. On the 28tli day of December, 1862, he was raarried to Mrs. Mary Ann Woodward, the widow of B. F. Woodward, and daughter of John and Lucinda Roberts. During all the trials and afflictions of life she has been a faithful and affec tionate wife, sharing alike his joys and sorrows. In 1865 he was converted to the christian religion and connected himself with the Baptist church. In 1867 he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry. The disability contracted in the United States army con tinued to afflict him to such a degree that he found himself ¦wholly unable to perform raanual labor, and he was therefore forced to resort to some less laborious profession to gain a livelihood for hiraself and faraily. He chose that of teaching in the public schools, which he entered upon in 1864 and pur sued with unqualified success for a period of twelve years, when his health became so badly impaired that he was com pelled to abandon the school room. In 1874 he suffVred a stroke of paralysis which was followed by a still more severe one in 1882 from which he has never recovered. In 1889 he and H. 0. Laughlin founded the Metropolis Republican, and run it very successfiilly for two years when his constautly de clining health forced hira to abandon the editorial chair, but liis paper was consolidated with the Massac Journal and still lives. Mr. Pryor is a man who has made his impression socially and particularly among the people of his religious denomina tion. As a minister he is regarded as a very close logical rea- soner, and as possessing very considerable pulpit power. As a writer he has few superiors, and as a consequence his produc tions are sought after by newspaper publishers and maga zines. At the present tirae he is associate editor of the Bap tist News, a Baptist publication of national reputation. He is also trustee of Ewing College, located at Ewing,* III:, and also a trustee of the Baptist Ministerial Education Society. Massac Goun-i-y Ai This is biit ah index to the public spii'it of :the raah and marks hira as a man of influence and distinction in liis de nomination. He and his amiable wife are at this time living quietly on their farm in Jacksoh precinct, Massac county, where they expect to welcome the sunset of life When it is the Master's good pleasure to call them to their final home. CHARLES ADAM GILTNER. Charles Adam Giltner was the son of Johii and Christina Giltner, and was born in Allentown, Lehigh county, Penn, MR. AND MRS C. A. GILTNER. He came to Massac county in 1848 and taught a term or two of school. He Was married to Miss Sarah Jane Leeper on the 27th day of March, 185i. To thera were born five sons -Mud two daughters. His sons are araong the raost thrifty and prosper ous farmers oif the county at the present time. By close man agenient and the exercise of self denial Mr. Giltner, the sub ject of this sketch, acquired a farm and accumulated some considerable property during the early years of his raarried life and exercised a wholesorae infiuence on the lives and 372 History or characters of the rather rude and uncivilized inhabitants of the county at that tirae. In August, 1862, he enlisted in com pany C, 131st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Captain Purdyon. His record as a soldier is without a blemish, but he must be classed with a large number of unfortunates whose railitary career was cut short by the wasting hand of disease. He was attacked with chronic diarrhoea and after a lingering illness he was sent to St. Louis, Mo., on a hospital boat and died on board the boat just before it reached its destination on Feb. 1st, 1863, and his remains were interred in Jefferson Barracks cemetery. Thus away from home and friends but under the folds and protection of the flag for which he sacrified his life, he sleeps the peaceful sleep of the patriot soldier, loved and revered by all who knew him as brave soldier, a loyal patriot, an exemplary citizen, and a model husband and father. His widow lived true to his memory, having never given to another the place he held in her youthful affections, but she peacefully resided on the old homestead iu Jack son precinct, this county, and in the lengthening shadows of the evening of life she calmly waited to join her husband in the grand reunion on the final camping ground of soldiers, dying this year. THOMAS JOHNSON MOSELEY. Thoraas Johnson Moseley, the oldest son of William Mose ley and Eliza Dunn Moseley, was born in Trigg county, Ky., the 22nd day of November, 1832. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1836 or 1837. He grew up on the farm and had all the disadvantages of pioneer life. His educational advan tages were very meagre, and his life wholly void of every ex citing incident until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861. He was raarried at the early age of 19 years to Miss Mary Lane Purcell by whora was born to hira six children, one of whom, George W. Moseley, is living, and a prosperous farmer in Jackson precinct, near the place of his birth. Edna Henriette died just as she was budding into womanhood. The remain ing four died in infancy. In August, 1861, he enlisted in company A, 48th Regi raent Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Captain Manning Mayfield. ¦-/. . CAPT. AND MRS. T. J. MOSELEY. Massac County. 373 He was mustered into the service at Camp Butler, and soon after was sent to Cairo, III., under command of General John A. McClernand. He participated in the battles of Belmont, Missouri; Paducah, Ky.; Fort Henry, Tenn.| Fort Donaldson and Pittsburg Landing. Soon after the last named battle he was attacked with typhoid fever and was sent to the hos pital in a dying condition, when all trace of him was lost. He was a brave, patriotic soldier, always ready to answer every call to duty. It was proverbial among his corarades that Corporal Moseley could be depended on in any eraergency. Thus through the carelesness of our hospital offlcials the life of a brave, patriotic soldier is lost in oblivion, and a grave injustice done one of our country's defenders. His widow, still faithful to his memory, lives in the solitude of widowhood at the home of her only child, George W. Moseley. She is the oldest daughter of Edward and Sarah Purcell and was born to them in Henry county, Tennessee, on the 23rd day of Sex)tem- her, 1828, and though somewhat eccentric she is a model type of American womanhood, having all those sterling qualities that commend her to the hearts and confidence of her associates. She is a faithful member of the Christian church and is calmly waiting the final call of the "Master. CHENAULT WEBB, M. D. UNIONVILLE, ILL. Hon. Isaac Webb, the father of Dr. Webb, was born in Henry county, Ky., and was a lawyer by profession. He rep resented his section in the legislature of Kentucky. His wife was Miss Levina Gist, who was a native of Alabaraa. Chenault Webb, their son, was born in Henry county, Tennessee, Sept. 30, 1869. Their horae was in Newcastle, the county seat, but they owned a large farm adjacent to the city on which young Webb spent most of his early time. He attended the Newcastle high school, and was gradu ated in a course of private instruction under Prof. H. K. Bowan. He clerked in a drugstore in his native city for two years and in 1890 matriculated in the Louisville Medical Col lege, Louisville, Ky., also taking an unofficial term in the 374 History of Kentucky School of Medicine and. graduating from the former institution in 1891. _' ; : . DR. AND MRS. CHENAULT WEBB. K«^ •'MMkSijiiC* ./ > CATHERINE WEBB. Massac County. 375 In June, 1891, he opened an office at Hamlettsburg, Pope county. 111., and within one year removed to Unionville, Illi nois, where he maintains a large practice. He is an Odd Fel low and Modern Woodman, In October, 1891, he and Miss Lora Spore of Golconda were married. They have one child, Catharine, born Aug. 13, 1896. DANIEL DEANE, MERCHANT. The grandfather of Mr. Deane was an expert weaver of velvet in Spittlefieid, England, and was the superintendent of velvet weavers. His son's name was Daniel Deane. Daniel Deane, Jr., was the son of Daniel and Mary Deane, two hardy English ancestors. He was born June 3, 1839, in London, England, and was educated under a private instructor and secured a good education. His early life was spent in his native country. Twenty-six years ago he carae almost direct to Massac county and farmed for about six years. Having a business turn of mind he opened a general store in Unionville, Massac couuty, twenty years ago and has continued merchandising for a fifth of a. centui-y in the same bulding. 376 History of March 24th, 1885, he and Mrs. Mary Anders were married and they have two bright children. Mr. Deane is of a pleasing disposition aud stands high in the coraraunity. HON. CHARLES P. SKAGGS, Pryor L. Skaggs, the father, was born in East Tennessee, Aug. 6, 1829, and carae to Illinois in 1851. He is a harness maker and worker of leather. For three years he served as a volunteer in the 120th Illinois infantry with the rank of corporal. Miss Eliza J. Davis, who was also born in East Tennessee, Nov. 23, 1831, became his wife June 22, 1848, and to them were born four sons and one daughter. Charles P. Skaggs, their son, was born in Marion, William son county, 111., December 1, 1858, and attended the common schools. He extended his education at the Southern Illinois normal university, Carbondale, paying his way by his own la bors. For some tirae he read law with Messrs. Gregg and Gregg until he went to Mt. Vernon, III., and engaged in the real estate and abstract business in the contiguous counties for about five years. Returning to Harrisburg in 1883 he became cashier of the Bank of Harrisburg, in which capacity he served for flfteen years, when he resigned, immediately resuraed the study of law, was adraitted to the bar and became a raember of the law firm of Thompson, Williford & Skaggs, which yet exists. Fraternally Mr. Skaggs has attained success. He was raade a thirty-second degree Mason in oriental causistry, Chicago, April, 1887, was knighted in 1886 in the Gethseraane com mandery, Knighls Templar, Metropolis, III.; is grand con ductor in the grand lodge of the I. O. O. F. of Illinois, trustee in the grand lodge. Knights of Pythias, domain of Illinois; also a member of the Modern Woodmen, A. O. U. W., Court of Honor and Tribe of Ben Hur. Mr. Skaggs is an ex-raayor of Harrisburg, his home city, and was nominated by the republican party as the candidate for the forty-second general assembly of Illinois at Mound City, July 12th, 1900, and elected Nov. 6th, 1900, without opposi tion. His extended experience in parliaraentary bodies, wide Massac County. 377 fraternal acquaintance, affable manners, and recognized abil ity bespeak for him a successful career as a legislator. November 29, 1882, he was married to Miss Carrie E. Sei mer, daughter of H. W. Seimer, Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Their two sons, Charles Seimer (16) and Frank P. (14) are cadets in the Kenyon railitary acaderay. Gambler, Ohio; Helen IL, who is 12, and William B., who is 11, are at home with their par ents. HON. MARION SUMNER WHITLEY, HARRISBURG, ILL The paternal ancestry of the subject of this sketch were of English lineage originally iu North Carolina, while the mater nal family was of German descent and early settled in the state of New York. Silas A. Whitley, the father, came to Williamson county, 111., in 1837, and died in the spring of 1900, while his son Mar ion was attending the republican state convention, Peoria, Illinois. His wife was Miss Hannah Crawford, who died when her son Marion was only five years old. June 17, 1860, Marion Sumner, their son, was born in Saline county, Illinois, where the parents then lived. In youth he attended the rural school for a short while and labored in a saw mill when young tO' earn money to pursue an education. When 19 he taught his first school and alternately taught and attended school until he was 26 years of age, when he mar ried, settled at Gallatia and was admitted to the bar in 1888, practicing there for four years. In 1892 he was elected state's attomey of Saline county and in 1893 he formed a partnership with Choisser and Choisser. His practice has, perhaps, extended into more counties than any other lawyer of southern Illinois. In 1897 he was elected mayor of Harrisburg and in 1900 was nominated by the con gressional convention at Carbondale as the republican presi dential elector of the twenty-second congressional district and made an eamest, capable and telling canvass for his party. JAMES ELLIOTT. Of the early pioneers of Massac county none did more to de velop along the correct lines the rude conditions then exist ing than did James Elliott. 378 .; , History of, . He was a. native of . Pennsylvania, ¦ born in Allegheny in 1810, and early had the misfortune, to suffer from disease .,.¦.,:.. I JA.MES ELLIOTT. ,..,..,.... ,-• which left hini a cripple for life." Undaunted he secured a good education and came to Vienna, ¦Johnson county, Illinois, in 1842, where he clerked in a store until he later came to Massac county, and it is said taught the sec6nd"term of subscription' school in the first school house in Massac county. This profession he followed for quite awhile and was raade. the fourth county school commissioner of the county, now the cbuiity supeiiutendent. This office he filled for a nuraber of years. Before the civil war he was twice elected circuit clerk and gave universal satisfaction. He retired tO' Ms farm until af ter the wkr was over, when he was again elected circuit clerk as a republican, but died in 1866. Mi". Elliott and Miss Eliza Laird were married in Massac county, of which she was a native. Her father was a pioneer of Massac county originally from New England. She died • in 1888.- Their children living here are James L. Elliott, cash ier. of ;the,NationaLState Bank, and John M. Elliott, a well established undertaker and furniture dealer. Massac , County . ¦,^79 E. A. ADKINS, M^D. Dr. A. E. Adkins is a native of Massac county, the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Adkins, two of the foremost citizens of the county. He was born Oct. 12, 1859, and his early life was tem pered by the happy environments of the farm. He obtained a coramon school education and in 1881 began DR. AND iWRS. E. A. ADKINS. the study of medicine under Dr. J. D. Young, of Brcioklyii, 111., also entering the drug store as clerk, where he gained a phar maceutical knowledge very valuable to him during his ex tended practice. In the winter of 1883 and '84 he entered the medical de partment of the University of Louisiana, New Orleans, took two courses of lectures in the Missouri Medical college, St. Louis, Mo., and graduated from that noted institution in March, 1887. Returmng home he opened an office at his old honie, where he has resided ever since, enjoying the confidence and profit able patronage of his life long friends. On April 7, 1886, he and Miss Laura B., daughter of Dr. J. D. Young, were mar ried and they have a pleasant and well arranged home. 38o History of MILO H. TROVILLION, M. D. ROUND KNOB. Daniel P. Trovillion, the father of our subject, was born in Tennessee, and was early brought to Illinois by his parents. He becarae a prosperous farmer in Pope county. 111., and re tired to Brownfield, 1891, to enjoy his later years. His wife was Elizabeth Lewis, and a native of Illinois. Milo H. Trovillion, M. D., was born in Columbus, Pope county. III., Oct. 31, 1865, and reared on a farm. He attended the common schools and the private normal schools. In 1885 he taught school for one term and began to read raedicine un der his brother. Dr. J. A. Trovillion, of Pope county. In the fall of 1889 he raatriculated in the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating with the title of "M. D." March 14, 1892, and opened an office in McCorraick, Pope county. Later he reraoved to Bloorafield, in the same county, and practiced his profession there for two and one-half years. In 1899 he located at Round Knob, in Massac county, where he is building up a paying practice. Dr. Trovillion is a meraber of the Massac and Pope county medical societies and of the Southem Illinois Medical Asso- Massac County. 381 ciation. He is assistant physician at the Metropolis Sanitar ium and has contributed scientific medical papers for the Southern Illinois Journal of Medicine and Surgery. In 1888 he and Miss Anna Williams were raarried. They have one child living, Loren, now 13; Carlos died at the age of 5 years. HON. JAMES E. JOBE, HARRISBURG, ILL. The Hon. James E. Jobe was bom in Indiana, but early came to Saline county, Illinois, where he entered the profes sion of teacher and met with great success-. He was elected county superintendent of public schools for several terms, re signing during the last terra to- accept appointment as com missioner of the Southem Illinois Penitentiary, Chester, III. Mr. Jobe has for a number of years been active in poli tics and has been delegate for his county to senatorial, con gressional and state conventions, where he has always wielded marked influence. He was a delegate from the Twenty-second congressional district to the national republican convention in 1896. His greatest record, however, has been made as a mem ber of the penitentiary commission. He has done his part in 3:82- . History OF '¦ '. conducting the business .bf that greatjin^titution.-'Whenthe present 'commission took charge,:the;pehite'ntiary was !$115,000 in debt; with nothjrfg- to, meet. the emergency.. Although the annual appropriations: ha;vebe:en much less during' the fpur years of his. administration than- that of -his predecessora,' the $115,000 indebtedness is paid, the institution's bills paid, and a balance to its credit." Of "this record the friends of Mr. Jobe are justly proud. HON. BEN O. JONES, METROPOLJS, ILL. Benjamin O. Jones was born in Graves county, Ky., Nov. 23, 1844, the son of Dr. Caleb Jones, a native of Virginia. He early laid the foundation of a liberal education in literature and languages, being recognized as a close student of poetry and history. He is a versatile writer and fluent speaker. In 1864 he carae to Metropolis and in 1869 became editor ol the Western Star, a year later purchasing the "Promulgator,'' and changed its name to "Massac Journal." In 1871 he, with A. J. Alden, also founded the "Pulaski Patriot" at Monnd City, 111. He parted with his newspaper interests in 1887. He was elected as a republican member of the XXIXtli gen- 'H'al assembly and took foremost rank as a leader. In 1879 he was admitted to the bar, was elected state's attorney the fol lowing year, and county jiidge in 1890. As a campaign speak er he has 'few s-u-periors'. :';.';..''''<•' Massac County. 383 FRAGMENTS. We have endeavored to give a, full and detailed account of the churches, lodges and points of interest, and feel that the most important facts have been secured, but several friends failed to keep tiieir promises to our request. The Germans support Evangelical, Methodist and Luth eran churches and parochial schools in Grant, Benton Washington and Brooklyn precincts. The Methodists raaintain congregations at Joppa and in Logan precinct, as parts of the Belknap circuit. They have good houses. The Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities have organiza tion « at Brooklyn. Joppa is one of the oldest points in the county situated nine miles below Metropolis on the river. For years it has been a small village, boat landing and postoffice. This sum raer of 1900 the Chicago & Eastern Illinois has built a line into the quiet little place and will perhaps cross the river there, giving new life and ^igor to Joppa, worthy a larger pop- ulatio-n than heretofore. Along the Illinois Central railroad is Round Knob, a neal little village and station, and Big-bay, further up th'e line. Several other minor postoffices also exist throughout the county. We might have secured many mo|'e sketches by soliciting the same but we have extensively advertised for all those de siring to publish their family record. Now tirae and the press of business forbid further delay. We thank all our friends who have supported an honest effort to raore particularly put in permanent form the facts of the history of Massac county. When this book is placed in our State Historical Library it snW be abo-ut the laat county of Illinois. THE END