USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 10
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PATRICK S. MCCANN. A citizen of note and a business man of promi- nence and influence at Herrin, Illinois, is Patrick S. MeCann, who is president of the MeCann Construction Company, one of the contracting concerns of Southern Ilinois. Mr. MeCann is also extensively interested in real estate at Herrin, and the splendid business blocks erected by him in this place have added stability and permaneney to the city.
In the city of St. Louis, Missouri, December 13. 1865, occurred the birth of Patrick S. MeC'ann, who is a son of James MeCan, now a re- tired citizen of Jackson county, Illinois. James McCann was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1830. In 1852, as a young man, he came to America, working at his trade of bricklaying first in New York city and later in Philadelphia. About the year 1855 he migrated west and settled at Dubuque, Jowa, where he joined a party of his countrymen in buying up an area of land under the "bit act" and where he continued to re- side until the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 he went to St. Louis, there engaging in the retail fuel business, his stock consisting of coal and wood. With the passage of time he developed an extensive business in St. Louis, where he had several yards, which he conducted until late in the '70s. In 1872 he came into Illinois and purchased a traet of timber, the beechwood of which he proceeded to manufacture into charcoal. In those days charcoal was used extensively in the rectifying or filtering of whiskey at the distilleries and that market opened up a good industry for Mr. MeCann at Grand Tower. ITis charcoal was ground and sacked and then shipped in five-bushel bags to points on the Mississippi river between St. Lonis and New Orleans. Eventually a cheaper method of handling the ernde whiskey was introduced and then Mr. MeCann turned his at- tention to the clearing and developing of his land in Jackson county. At this point his several sons rendered him valuable service as farmers and it was not until they had reached their majorities and gone out into other fields of endeavor that the father gave up farming, too, finally re- tiring to live upon his competeney.
James McCann was married at St. Louis during the Civil war. the maiden name of his wife having been Bridget Harigan, Mrs. MeCann was born and reared in Ireland, in County Tipperary, whence she came to America. She was called to eternal rest December 26, 1909, and is sur- vived by the following children,-Patrick S., the immediate subject of this review ; James. Jr., a member of the MeCann Construction Company ; Maggie, the wife of William Hickey, of East St. Louis; Charles, also a member of the MeCann Construction Company, and runs a livery and sales stable at Murphysboro, Illinois; Mollie is Mrs. Frank Radelle, of Murphysboro; and Robert is likewise connected with the MeCann Con struetion Company.
Patrick S. MeCann was a child of seven years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Jackson county, Illinois, where he passed his hov- hood and youth and where he received his early educational training At the age of twenty-one years he left his father's farm and became a fire. man of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad ont of Murphysboro. He remained
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in the railroad service for the following two years, at the expiration of which he formed a little partnership with his brothers to take a contraet from the government for getting out piling and riprap stuff for repairing the banks of the Mississippi river. The brothers followed this work for the ensuing nine years and eventually drifted into railroad eontraet work. The first real contract taken by "McCann Brothers" comprised a piece of grading for the Cotton Belt line at Gray's Point, Missouri. They also contracted for the foundation work for the round house and the excava- tion for the ash pit there. Since accepting their first contract, in 1899, they have done work for the Frisco, the Illinois Central, the Iron Moun- tain, the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and the Coal Belt Electric railroads, in addition to which they have also done a great deal of grading for mining companies in this section of Illinois. At the present time, in 1912, they are completing a contract for the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railway Company into the coal field between Marion and Herrin.
Early in the history of Herrin Mr. McCann and his brothers became owners of real estate in the new town. After the destructive fire they im- proved their property with splendid new brick houses, some of which face on Park avenue and Washington street.
In his political relations Mr. MeCann is a Republican. While a resi- dent of Grand Tower he served that place as a member of the board of aldermen, and sinee coming to Herrin he has served with the utmost effi- ciency on the board of health. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Knights of Colum- bus. In their religious faith he and his wife are devout communicants of the Catholic church, in the various departments of whose work they are most zealous factors.
At Bloomington, Indiana, April 26, 1904, Mr. McCann was united in marriage to Miss Ella Kerr, a daughter of Patrick Kerr, of Irish birth. The wedding occurred the day before the formal opening of the St. Louis Exposition and Mr. and Mrs. MeCann attended that event. When Presi- dent Roosevelt let loose the fastenings that held "Old Glory" as a signal that the exposition was open to the world, Mr. MeCann was standing where its folds enveloped him and where the real spirit of the occasion was eentered. Mr. and Mrs. MeCann have two children,-Catherine and Ella.
THOMAS M. LOGAN. It is a generally accepted truism that no man of genius or acknowledged ability can be justly or adequately judged on the morrow of his death, chiefly because time is needed to ripen the estimate upon work which can only be viewed on all sides in the calm atmosphere of a more or less remote period from its completion. This remark is in no sense inappropriate in the case of the late Thomas M. Logan, who ocenpies a conspienous place in the history of Jackson county. No man in the community had warmer friends than he, or was more generally esteemed. He was a man of refined manners, of consummate business ability, one who achieved eminent success in his affairs. Mr. Logan was born August 1, 1828, a son of Dr. John and Elizabeth Logan, and a brother of the famous soldier and statesman, General John A. Logan, one of Illinois' most honored sons.
Mr. Logan's grandfather, John Logan, brought the family to the United States from Ireland, and for four years Dr. John Logan studied medieine in the South, his first field of practice being in Perry county, Missouri. In 1824 he located at Brownsville, then the county seat of Jackson county, Illinois. He married Mary Bareune, of Cape Gir- ardean county. Her father kept a store at the month of Apple Creek and sent his daughter away to a French and English school, so she was
The Log
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well educated and she was also a handsome woman. She was the widow of one Lorimer, and one child was born, Louisa. The mother died, and several years later Mr. Logan moved to Ilinois, and here he married for his second wife Elizabeth Jenkins, a native of North Carolina, whose father removed from that state to South Carolina and later to Tennessee, and subsequently came to Union county, Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life in farming. Mr. JJenkins raised a com- pany during the Black Hawk war, later becoming the colonel of his regiment, and his son served the state as lieutenant governor. In 1826 Dr. John Logan removed to what is now Murphysboro, buying a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in 1842, when the county commissioners chose a part of that farm for the site of the new court house, he readily donated a large portion of his land, on which the square and court honse are now located. The original Logan home, which was erected by him, was remodeled, the same logs being used in rebuilding, and this homestead is located on South Eighteenth street. During the Black Hawk war Dr. Logan offered his services to his conn- try, and throughout that struggle served as a surgeon. A prominent member of the Illinois medieal profession, he was also interested in publie matters, and rose to positions of honor and trust, being several times sent to the legislature. He passed away in 1853, and his widow survived him until 1876, when she passed away. Both were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.
Thomas M. Logan was educated in the public schools, and was reared to the life of an agriculturist, eventually becoming the owner of three hundred acres of fine land, which he devoted to general farming and the breeding of fine cattle and thoroughbred horses. In 1892, with J. C. Clarke, he laid out the Clarke & Logan addition to Murphysboro, a traet of eighty acres, and eventually became the organizer and director of the First National and City National banks, and with John Ozburn built the manufacturing mill and the Logan & Deshon mill. Actively interested in all of his city's interests, he became president of the Mur- physboro Street Railway Company, and hell that position up to the time of his death. In 1891 he bought the site of the present Logan home, which cost in the neighborhood of thirty-five thousand dollars. There his widow, who was Miss Sallie Oliver, of Lecompton, Kansas, now resides.
As an intelligent man and reader, Mr. Logan was always well versed in the current events and affairs of the day, whether from an educa- tional or political standpoint. While his strong self-reliance required him to adhere with tenacity to those views which his judgment and investigation led him to adopt, his sineerity was undoubted, and his integrity was unquestioned. Holding the warmest place in the hearts of those who knew him best-whether at the home fireside or in the circle of friendship-his life and character were a tower of strength, and his memory shall be a benediction to those who loved him so well. lle passed away at his home in Murphysboro on the 26th of June. 1907
RICHARD TALLEY, formerly known as Dick, was born in Ireland, May 30. 1826. He came to America in 1830, with his parents, where he grew up to manhood, after which he was united in marriage to Miss Sural Ann Wilkinson, daughter of Bennie Wilkinson, of Missouri, and settled down farming in Franklin county, Illinois, on what is known as " Town Mount Prairie." the postoffice being Plumtield. In time two children were born to this union .- James Benjamin Talley and Elizabeth Talles 1861, on June 6th, he volunteered and inlisted in Company 1. of an 11h- nois regiment, and served three years in the war after which He revived Vol. III-5
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an honorable discharge and returned home. He began farming in the coming spring, and in the same spring a quarrel ensued between him and his brother-in-law, resulting in the fighting of a duel, in which they shot each other and both died. Richard left his wife, son and daughter to mourn his loss. Eleven months after his death his wife. Sarah Ann, died, leaving James Benjamin Talley and Elizabeth Talley to grow up in the world the best they could. James Benjamin was but five years and ten months old, his sister, Elizabeth Talley, being one year his senior. They were then taken by Ben Wilkinson, their unele. When sixteen years old, James Benjamin Talley came to Jackson county, and Eliza- beth Talley, when ten years old, went to her grandfather, Bennie Wil- kinson, in Northwest Missouri. There, at the age of seventeen years, she was married to George Taylor, after which they began traveling and their whereabouts are unknown to this day.
James Benjamin Talley came to Jackson county and settled down at Oraville, Illinois, after which he was engaged in the timber business with Dutch Payne for about six months. He then began farming for Bill Bradley, but after farming for him three years he left and went into the blacksmith business with Freel Robinson at Oraville, staying there six months. Selling ont, he then began railroading, but after eight months returned to farming, working for Frank Bastien for six months. Next he engaged in the timber business at Vergennes, staying there three months and then went to Severance, Kansas, and took up farming there, but only remaining at that place about two months, when he returned to Oraville, Illinois, and engaged in farming again for Bill Bradley.
During that time Mr. Talley was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bastien, daughter of Frank Bastien, who resided one mile west of Ora- ville, and began farming for himself on Frank Bastien's farm. One child was born to them, named Henry ; after two years Mr. Talley moved to E. H. Snider's farm, four miles north of Murphysboro. Illinois. There to their union was born the second child, named Edward. Farming there one year, he then moved to the R. A. McCord farm. one-quarter of a mile west of Oraville, farming there one year, when he moved to his own farm in Levan Township, in section sixteen, residing there off and on for twenty-two years. To their union seven children were born, as follows: Marion, Willie, Gertrude, Ida, Lulu, Frank and Sarah.
About March 10, 1903, Mr. Talley bought Mr. Elex Ripley's farm, lo- cated three-quarters of a mile west of Oraville, and mnoved there, but after one month sold it back to Mr. E. Ripley and returned to the farm in Le- van Township, staying there six months. He then bought the John Murray property. on the north edge of Oraville, staying there until the middle of the next summer. when he sold and moved back to the farm in Levan Township. Leaving the farm in the care of his sons Edward and Willie the remainder of the family moved back to Oraville, where they all reside at present with the exception of Sallie Gertrude, who is in East St. Louis, Illinois. The son Edward married Miss May Deitz, daughter of Noah Deitz, of Levan Township, and his brother Willie lives with him.
.f. B. Talley and son Henry purchased the merchandise business of J. L. Bradley & Son, of Oraville, where they are at present. Mr. J. B. Talley's knowledge of the needs of the people of his community has stood him in good stead in seleeting his new stock. He has lived in this locality for a long period. is well known to the citizens here and bears an excel- lent reputation as a man of sterling integrity and upright business prin- ciples. Politically, he is a Republican.
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HENRY TALLEY, junior member of the mercantile firm of Talley & Son, at Oraville, Illinois, belongs to the younger generation of business men of Southern Illinois, whose enthusiasm and enterprise have done so much toward developing of late years the commercial interests of this section. Born on a farm and reared to agricultural pursuits, he has shown him- self quick to adapt himself to his new occupation, and has educated him- sell in modern methods of doing business to such an extent that he has in- troduced several up-to-date innovations in his business and is rapidly making a place for himself among the substantial men of his community. Mr. Talley is a native of Jackson county, and has spent his entire career here.
Henry Talley's early life was spent on his father's farm, and his edu- cation was seenred in the public schools, while attending which he as- sisted his father in the work around the homestead. As a youth, how- ever, he manifested a desire to give up the cultivation of the soil and en- gage in some more congenial occupation, and for some years he followed railroading. He had always had a desire to enter the mercantile field. and when his father informed him of his purpose to purchase the business of Mr. Bradley, young Talley became his partner, and the association has since continued. A business connection of this kind is one of the best that can be formed. the conservatism of the older man and his experience in matters of business counterbalancing the more daring ventures of youth. Both father and son in this case have many warm personal friends in this community, and the manner in which they are being supported in their new venture speaks well for the future of the concern. Henry Tal- ley, like his father, is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, but he has been too much wrapped up in his private interests to think of en- tering the political field. He is unmarried, and makes his home with his parents at their prosent residence at Oraville.
THOMAS L. ROBISON. The records of the Civil war show that Illinois contributed some of the best and bravest of its sons to the Union cause. and that they bore the brunt of some of its hardest-fought battles. The real record of that great conflict is written deep in the hearts of those who participated in it. Aside from wounds, sickness, broken health and shat- tered nerves, the survivors of the great rebellion had seared on their mem- ory seenes and incidents that even the hand of time could not erase, and the carefree youths who marched away so gayly in defense of their com. try's flag returned to their homes full-grown men, ofd. if not in years, in experience. The Robison family was one whose members sacrificed them- selves on the altar of their country's honor. for four brothers served gal- lantly as soldiers in the Union army, and it is of one of these, Thomas L. Robison, a retired l'armer of Ozark, Illinois, that this sketch speaks. Mr. Robison was born April 1. 1842. on a l'arm in Pope county, Illinois, and is a son of Allen and Diona (Keef) Robison, natives of Ireland and Tennes. see, respectively.
Allen Robison first settled in North Carolina on coming to the U'nited States, subsequently removing to Kentucky and then to Tennessee, where he was married. In 1812 he migrated to Pope county, filed goverment land, and for many years cultivated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Of his children, four grew to maturity. Robert A .. Thomas L . Wil liam F. and George W., all of whom enlisted for service in the Union army. Robert A. died at Corinth, Mississippi, soon after the battle at that point, and William F. met his death in the battle of Fort Pillon On November 7. 1861, Thomas L. Robison enlisted in Company K. Fifty- sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and after serving one year was transferred in January, 1863, to Company G, Sixth Ilinois Cavalry.
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with which he continued to serve until the close of the war. He received his first honorable discharge October 25, 1862, at Corinth, Mississippi, and re-enlisted at Germantown, Tennessee, September 6, 1863, his final discharge coming at Selma, Alabama, November 5, 1865. Mr. Robi- son participated in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, ineluding Corinth, Moscow, Hurricane Creek, Collinsville, Franklin, Nashville and Columbia. At the battle of Nashville he was wounded in the left thigh, and a bursting shell so injured the drum of his right ear that during his later years he has been affected by partial deafness; at the battle of Moscow he was wounded in the right arm, and in the battle of Franklin was severely wounded in the right breast. A brave and faithful sol- dier, he is remembered by his old comrades as one to whom no danger was too great to risk, no mareh too long, no duty too irksome, and he was respected by his officers and admired by his fellows. Golconda G. A. R. Post, No. 332, has no more highly esteemed member.
On his return from the service Mr. Robison engaged in farming in Pope county until November 9, 1884, which was the date of his advent in Johnson county. In 1901 he purchased a farm of eighty-nine aeres three miles west of Ozark, but on April 14, 1902, moved to the village, where he has since resided. He is the owner of five town lots and a hand- some residence, and is numbered among the substantial men of his community. During the eighteen years he lived at Sanburn, from 1884 until 1902, he served as justice of the peace and notary publie. He was also one of the most successful pension attorneys in Southern Illinois, and supplemented his serviee as a soldier by greatly aiding the veterans and the widows of those who had lost their lives in battle. Fraternally lie is connected with Tunnel Hill Lodge, No. 611, I. O. O. F., and his religious belief is that of the Baptist church.
On October 8, 1871, Mr. Robison was married to Miss Sarah J. Oliver, who was born January 27, 1849, in Franklin county, Alabama, daugh- ter of James F. and Barbara (Hamilton) Oliver, and eame to Pope county, Illinois, March 8, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Robison have had no ehil- dren, but have reared several children as though they were their own: Carrie Oliver, George Robison, Belle Hardin and Sarah Ford.
JUDGE WILLIAM M. FARMER. A man of more than local fame, known throughout the state for his ability in his profession and whose name stands in Vandalia for honor, uprightness and truth is Judge William M. Farmer, of the supreme court of the state of Illinois. His advent into the legal fraternity was unheralded; he was a green young lawyer together with hundreds of others who were graduated from the law schools and launched in life at the same time. But presently he began to attraet attention ; soon he was elected state's attorney, and then the steady advance began which eulminated in his present high position.
On the 5th of June, 1853, William M. Farmer was born in Fayette county, Illinois, the son of William F. and Margaret (Wright) farmer. His father was a native of the Blue Grass state, where his paternal grand- parents had settled on their removal from North Carolina. William Farmer was born in 1808 and eame to Illinois in 1829 and located in Fayette county. He turned his attention to farming and throughout his life pursued this oceupation, save for the time which he spent in the serv- ice of his country during the Black Hawk war of 1832. Mr. Farmer never had the opportunity to acquire much of an education, but his strong common sense and force of character made him a highly respected member of his community. He held a number of publie offiees in his county, and was a stanch Demoerat. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the slave-holding aristocraey of the South, but they took the side
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of the Abolitionists and were firm supporters of the Union during the Civil war. Mrs. Farmer died when the Judge was only twelve, but her husband lived to the ripe old age of eighty, dying in 1888. The Judge was the son of the second wife of Mr. Farmer. His first marriage was to a Miss Jackson, and four children were born of this first union, all of whom have died.
Judge Farmer spent his early life on the farm, but his father was ambitious for him, so after his education in the public schools he was sent to MeKendree College, where he pursued the classical course, feel- ing all the while that law was the profession most suited to him. His interest in the law was very likely aroused when as a boy he sat by his father's side and listened to the arguments of the lawyers. His father was a justice of the peace, and in those days important cases were taken before him and the best legal talent in the county-seat would be ar- rayed in his office. Consequently, after teaching for ten months the boy entered the old Union College of Law, which is now the law department of the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. In 1876 he was graduated with the degree of LL. B., and was admitted to the bar that same year. In July he opened an office in Vandalia, in partnership with an old eollege chum, named Chapin. He was successful from the very first. for he owned a winning personality and the confidence and en- thusiasm of youth. Just four years later, in 1880, he was elected state's attorney, holding this difficult position for four years, during which time he continued his practice, gaining each day in a knowledge of values and of men. In 1888 he had so far won the confidence and trust of the peo- ple that they sent him to the lower house of the Legislature. After the expiration of a two-years' term they further honored him by sending him to the Senate. He served in this angust body for four years, being one of the famous "101" who in 1891 elected ex-Governor Palmer to the United States Senate. During the session of 1893 he was chairman of the judiciary committee and took an important part in framing the laws of the state. There was no species of wire-pulling and political trickery that he did not come in contact with during these years, but it was his constant endeavor to keep his skirts out of the muek, and he came from his term of office with the confidence of his constituents unimpaired.
In 1897 he was compelled to give up his active practice by his elce- tion to the bench as circuit judge. His ability in this new line of work was soon recognized and in 1903 the supreme court appointed him to the appellate court of the second district. In 1906 came the crowning tri- umph, in his eleetion to the supreme court of the state of Illinois for a term of nine years. Although he practices no longer, he still elings to his old law office and in spite of his exalted position it is very easy to drop in and have a chat with its genial occupant.
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