USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 36
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enlisted it was as a member of the Seventh Tennessee Regiment of the Federal army. In 1869 the elder Mr. Long removed to Illinois and located near the Smith's Grove settlement. Here in 1872 he mar- ried Caroline Watkins of Bond county, Illinois. To their union were born six children, the eldest of the number being James Marion, im- mediate subject of this review, and only two brothers survive besides himself, namely : John Finesse, a farmer in Bond county; and Wil- liam Thomas, also a Bond county agriculturist. Both Mr. and Mrs. Long survive, making their home on their farm near Stubblefield, and happy in the possession of many friends and the respect of the com- munity which for nearly half a century has had them in its midst and found them in every way desirable citizens. The father is actively en- gaged in farming. In polities he has always given allegiance to the "Grand Old Party," and although too young to vote for Father Abra- ham, to whose call he so cheerfully answered, he has supported with his vote all succeeding candidates. As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic he renews association with the comrades of other days and he and his wife attend the Baptist church.
The boyhood and youth of James M. Long were spent in Bond county on his father's farm, where he became well-grounded in the many departments of agriculture, and to the country schools he is indebted for his education. He found oeenpation after his school days as an assistant to his father in his agricultural endeavors and contin- ued thus engaged until September, 1901, when he opened a general merchandise store in Stubblefield. In the same year he was appointed postmaster, and the office he still holds after the lapse of ten years, his services having ever been faithful and efficient. Ilis mercantile busi- ness has steadily increased since he opened his store and he has trade from all the surrounding farming country. He also owns a small farm of twenty-four acres, which is under successful cultivation, and has forty acres in Alabama. Ile is a Republican in politics and a Bap- tist in religion. He is unmarried and makes his home with his parents.
WILLIAM W. McFALL. The city of Benton, Illinois, is fortunate in that it has been made the field of operations of some of the most prom- inent and wealthy business men of Southern Illinois, for in this way its industrial and commercial future is assured and the growth and devel- opment of its interests made sure. A number of these men have been the architects of their own fortunes; economists claim that the only men worth considering are those who have developed their characters and fortunes without outside assistance. Experience seems to prove that it is such men as these who are self-reliant and purposeful and can be depended upon in any crisis that may come to the country or com- munity. One of the successful business men of Benton who certainly belongs to the self-made class is William W. MeFall, who was born August 31, 1844, in Williamson county, Ilinois, a son of John and Jane (Cantrell) MeFall.
John McFall, the grandfather of William W., was born in North Carolina, where he was a planter and slave-holder. Deciding to go to Tennessee, he sold his slaves and property, accepting state money, which he found to be worthless when he reached his destination. Although well along in years, he did not allow his misfortunes to dishearten him, and set out to make a new start in order to provide for his family. which, after many hardships, he eventually succeeded in doing. His death occurred in Tennessee. ITis son, also named John, was born in North Carolina, and was a child when he accompanied his parents to Tennessee. As a young man he became engaged in the flat-boat busi-
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ness on the Cumberland River down to New Orleans, but in 1840 sold his interests and came to Williamson county, Illinois, where he bought out an improvement, which he proceeded to farm. In 1853 Mr. Me- Fall bought his first government land, but sold it in 1856 to move to Benton, then a small village. He continued to farm, however, and in 1865 and 1866 was engaged in the mercantile business, and his death occurred in 1871. He was a stanch and active Democrat in his politi- cal views, but was never an office seeker, and was faithful member of the Methodist church. His wife, who died in the faith of the Baptist church in 1863, was a daughter of Richard Cantrell. a native of Ten- nessee and the progenitor of the well-known Cantrell family of Frank- lin county.
As a youth William W. MeFall was not given many educational advantages, although he attended the Benton schools for some time. but the most of his schooling was secured in the school of hard work. Early in life he displayed marked business ability and the happy faculty of making money. His first venture of a business nature was in the woolen mill and cotton gin enterprise, in which he was success- ful, and in 1872 he sold his interests at a healthy profit and engaged in the flour milling business with John Ward, with whom he built one of the first mills in Franklin county, this later being rebuilt as a roller mill. After continuing with Mr. Ward very successfully for some time he sold his interest and engaged in a livery business, and for eight years had the contracts for carrying the mail on some of the leading routes, then engaging in lumbering with Ward & Moore, under the firm name of Ward, Moore & MeFall. After some years spent in the flour mill. sawmill and timber business he contracted to furnish the timber for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad in the construction of that company's track from Mount Vernon to Marion, and this proved to be a very successful enterprise, netting him a handsome profit. In 1897 he went into the general hardware and implement business, which has since been incorporated under the name of the MeFall Hardware Com- pany, with Mr. MeFall as president and A. L. Eskon, vice-president and general manager, and this business is now the largest of its kind in Franklin county. In addition Mr. MeFall owns a large amount of city property and farming lands, and takes great pride in the achievements of his city and county. He is a member of the board of local im- provements, and a leader in movements calculated to be of benefit to Benton. In 1902 he helped to organize the First National Bank of Benton, becoming its first vice-president, a position which he held until he was elected president in 1912, and this is now one of the strongest financial institutions in the southern part of the state. having a capital of fifty thousand dollars, a surplus of a like amount, and deposits aggre- gating over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In political mat- ters he has always been a Democrat, but he has given his time and at- tention to business rather than to politics, and has never desired public office. Everything with which he has been engaged has turned ont successfully, but it has been the characteristics of the man which have made him, not the development of his surroundings. He is the sort of a man who would have been successful at any time, in any place, at any sort of enterprise. His career is worth study, and will be of ben- efit to the aspiring members of the rising generation.
In 1867 Mr. MeFall was married to Miss Helen A. Denning, dangh- ter of Judge William A. Denning, who sat on the circuit bench of Franklin county for a number of years, and was an early settler and very prominent Democrat of this section. Five children have been born to this union, namely: Hallie, Mande. Gussie, William and Pearl. of
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whom William is now deceased. Mrs. MeFall died September 1, 1906, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Mek'all and his children are consistent members and liberal supporters.
WILLIAM THOMAS EASLEY, M. D. One of the leading physicians and surgeons of Southern Illinois, William Thomas Easley, M. D., of Green- ville, is a practitioner of much experience and a elose student of the seienee which he wisely ehose as a profession. Keeping abreast of the times in this era of progress, when the diseases that manifest them- selves in the different organs of the human body demand special treat- ment, he has made special study of the eye and ear, making these his specialty, and his practice along these lines has so constantly increased within the past few years that it now requires a large share of his at- tention, eliminating to a large extent his general practice.
Born in Montgomery county, September 1, 1857, Dr. William T. Easley was brought up on the home farm and aequired his rudimen- tary education in the rural schools of his native distriet. Ambitious to further advance his studies, he attended Hillsboro Academy the two years prior to attaining his majority, after which he taught for awhile in the old schoolhouse in which he received his early training. He subsequently studied medicine with a country physician, Dr. Bax- ter Haynes, and in 1880 entered the Saint Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1883. The ensuing eighteen months Dr. Easley was engaged in the practice of medicine at Smithboro, Bond county, from there coming to Greenville, where he has since enjoyed an extensive and remunerative practice, being now the longest-established physician in the place. Wishing to specialize in regard to diseases of the eye, Dr. Easley took a course of study at the South Western Optieal College, Kansas City, Missouri, where he received the degree of Doctor of Opties, after which he studied in Chicago, there receiving the degree of Doctor of Ophthalmology. In addition to his special work, the Doctor is often called upon to do delicate and difficult surgical work, and is now serv- ing as surgeon for the Vandalia Railroad Company. He is very promi- nent and influential in professional circles, being president of the Bond County Medieal Society and an active member of the Illinois State Medical Association. For several years he served as coroner of Bond county.
On September 28, 1882, Dr. Easley was united in marriage with Minnie DeShane, of Coffeen, Illinois, who is of French parentage and ancestry and they have two children, Grace and Charles Euelid. Po- litieally the Doetor is identified with the Republican party, and is ever interested in advancing the publie welfare. For nine years a member of the Greenville Board of Education, he served as its presi- dent two years, and was largely influential in having erected one of the largest school buildings in the city. A valued member of the Methodist church, he is chairman of its Board of Stewards, and a liberal contributor towards its support.
LOUIS A. HAWKINS. A native of Germany and brought to America by his parents when he was a mere infant, the entire life of Lonis A. Hawkins since his advent in this country has been passed in Illinois, save for a few brief years spent in St. Louis county, Missouri, as a small boy. Since 1870 he has been a continuous resident in the vicinity of Mounds, and there he has established a home and built up a farm which is on a parity with any similar tract of land in Southern Illinois.
The exact spot of his nativity in the Fatherland is not known, but
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the date of his birth was December 9, 1844. Ilis father was George Hawkins, who on immigrating to this country with his family first settled in St. Louis county. Missouri, among the German speaking people of that district. He settled near the Mississippi river in Jack- son county, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in about 1856, when he was in the neighborhood of forty-four years of age. His first wife died in Germany, and he was married the second time there. His second wife died a short time after his passing away. and of the two unions, Louis is the only child known to have reached maturity.
At the death of his father Louis Hawkins fell into the keeping of Hiram Lee, a neighboring farmer, and he also died before the un- fortunate boy came of age. The usual lot of the orphan was his and the only education he was privileged to receive was acquired in the few scattering months he was able to attend the country school of the vil- lage in which he was reared. Before he reached the age of twenty-one he married, and the sum total of his assets when he began life as a married man was one horse. He farmed the widow Lee's land on shares one season and his share of the erop was sufficient to seeure for him another horse, as a result of which his second year was more sie- cessful. While the Civil war was in progress he made an attempt to enlist in the Eightieth Infantry of Illinois. He went to Centralia, where he contracted fever and ague, and he became so debilitated as to warrant the commanding officer in sending him home without enlist- ment.
In the main, farming has beenpied Mr. Hawkins' attention from first to last, although he has been employed in other capacities in his time. In Missouri he spent some time as a laborer about the mines in Madison county, and when he first came to Pulaski county he was em- ployed for a year in hauling lumber from the mill of his father-in-law. This latter employment was the indireet occasion of his aequiring his first piece of real estate, of which he took possession in the early seven- ties and began to improve the "eut over" area of the land in his initial efforts at building him a home. His traet of one hundred and seventy acres of fertile bottom lands, practically cleared and under cultivation. represents in large measure the nature and results of his employment during the years of his residence upon it. In addition to this tract he owns two other picees of land, totaling sixty-five acres in all. which, combined with his other holdings, constitutes a modest and worthy com- petence as a result of the labors of the orphan boy of years ago. His first traet of forty aeres, one-half mile south of Mounds, was his first home. He lived there about twenty years and then moved to the one hundred and seventy acre tract about one and one-half miles west of Monnds. Ilis third tract of twenty-five acres lies about two miles west of Mounds. Mr. Hawkins has made his winnings as a stock and grain farmer. His is the repetition of the story of the tortoise and the hare. and after more than forty years of continuons industry the battle against adversity has been completely overcome, and provision for the evening of life has been assured. He has taken a good citizen's interest in polities as an adherent of the Republican party, and for twenty- eight years he retained the office of justice of the peace. He east his first presidential vote for General Grant, and has voted for every pres- idential candidate of the Republican party since that date.
On August 20, 1865, Mr. Hawkins married Sallie Walbridge, a daughter of Henry Walbridge, from Vermont. The issue of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are: John, who married Kate White and is a farmer in Pulaski county : Addie, the wife of Warren Crain, a farmer Vol. 111-16
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near Mounds; Mary S., who spent several years as a teacher in Pulaski county before she was elected county superintendent of schools by the Republican party in 1908, and who is now successfully serving her sec- ond term as the incumbent of that responsible office; Lizzie, the wife of Marion Shifley, of Mounds: Hattie; Sallie, who married Thurman Carson, of Mounds; and Louis H., as yet in the parental home.
DR. JOHN P. MILLER has for four years been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in Valmeyer, and in that time has built up a representative practice and a creditable reputation which bids fair to increase in its scope with the passing of the years.
Born in Harrisonville, Illinois, on May 12, 1879, John P. Miller is the son of P. G. Miller, a native of St. Louis county, Missouri, born there on June 15, 1849. The latter came to Monroe county thirty-five years ago and settled in Harrisonville, where for a number of years he conducted a ferry over the Mississippi river. Later he engaged in the liquor business, in which he is still prominent in Harrisonville. IIe married Catherine Ellen, of Germany, and of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller six are living. Dr. Miller is their fourth child. Mr. Miller is Democrat in his political faith, and he and his wife live at Ilar- risonville.
Dr. Miller received his early schooling in the public schools and on completing the course prescribed by the common schools of his town he entered the Normal University at Normal, Illinois. He followed that course of training with four years of practical work as a school teacher, and then entered St. Louis University as a student in the medical de- partment. Later he entered the Baltimore Medical College, where he finished a complete course, and in 1906 was graduated from that in- stitution with the degree of M. D. His first field of practice was at Chalfin Bridge, where he labored for one year, then removed to Val- meyer, which has since been the center of his operations in his profes- sional capacity. He has been snecessful in establishing a flourishing practice, which is in a state of constant growth, and his reputation among the medical fraternity in his section of the state is of a partic- ularly high order. Dr. Miller is a member of the State Medieal Asso- ciation and the County Medical Association, being active in both or- ganizations, and is local surgeon for the St. L. I. M. & S. Railroad and the St. L. & S. W. Railroad companies. IIe is also a member of the Masonie order and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In his politi- cal allegiance he shares in the views of the Democratic party, and is active in its interests.
In 1906 Dr. Miller married Miss Cecil A. Stoey, of Pittsburg. Penn- sylvania. No children have been born to their union.
DANIEL J. BRADLEY. A large proportion of those who have become successful in the mercantile field in Franklin county are men who have been brought up in farming communities, reared to agricultural pur- suits, and left the peaceful vocation of tilling the soil for the busy vicissitudes of trade when they have felt that by thus acting they could enlarge the scope of their activities and profit accordingly. Many of these have chosen as their field the villages and eities adjacent to agri- cultural eenters, knowing that their early experience would stand them in good stead in choosing the goods most acceptable to their trade, and no exception to this rule is found in the ease of Daniel J. Bradley, a prominent business citizen of Elkville, whose career furnishes an ex- cellent example of successful farmer turned more successful merchant.
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He was born January 12, 1865, at Tamaroa, Illinois, and is a son of Michael and Ellen (Linnehan) Bradley, natives of Ireland.
Michael Bradley was born in 1820, and in his native country re- ceived educational training that fitted him for a school teacher, an oc- cupation which he followed until coming to the United States in 1848. He located at Tamaroa, and during the rest of his active career fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, although on various occasions he engaged in the work with which he had first identified himself. lle was an ac- tive adherent of Democratie principles, and a faithful member of the Catholic church, in the firm belief of which he died in 1909. In 1850 he was married to Miss Ellen Linnehan, and they had a family of nine children, Daniel J. being the next to the youngest. Mrs. Bradley is still living and makes her home at Elkville.
Daniel J. Bradley spent his early life much the same as other farmers' sons, attending public school when he could be spared from the duties of the home place, and being taught every detail that would enable him to sneeessfully follow an agricultural career. However, the youth had an ambition to enter merchandising, and at the age of twenty- three years secured a position as a elerk in a general store. During the years that followed he applied himself assiduously to acquiring a capital with which to establish himself in business as a merchant, and in 1903 embarked as the proprietor of a general store at Elkville. His subse- quent success has been such as to place him among the substantial men of his community, and his reputation is that of a man of sterling busi- ness integrity and one who has aided in developing the interests of his adopted village while advancing the scope of his own affairs. From a small beginning he has built up a trade that covers the territory for a number of miles surrounding Elkville, and he now has a stock of ten thousand dollars, the largest in this part of the county. In political matters, like his father, he is a Democrat, and the confidence and esteem in which he is universally held by his fellow-townsmen has been made manifest by his election to the office of township treasurer. He is a member of the Red Men and keeper of the wampum in the local lodge. and also holds membership in the Catholic Knights of Columbus.
In 1896 Mr. Bradley was married to Miss Ellen Redden, of Johnson county, daughter of Patrick Redden, a railroad man. Two children have been born to them: J. Paul and R. Welden. The family is connected with the Catholic church.
AUSTIN IRVIN BROWN, M. D. The physician occupies one of the most responsible as well as confidential relations in our social existence. To him are intrusted our innermost secrets, as well as the lives and welfare of our dearest friends. To worthily and acceptably fill such a position is one of the most diftienlt tasks ever imposed on man, and such a task has been assumed by Austin Irvin Brown, who has had a long and varied experience. Gifted with a love for his chosen pro- fession, quiek of intuition, and generous and sympathetic in his work. he has won the respect and esteem of the people of Vienna, Illinois, his chosen field of practice. Dr. Brown was born on a farm near Bun- combe, seven miles west of Vienna, in JJohnson county, Illinois. March 16. 1858, and is a son of R. W. and Mary A. (Peterson) Brown.
Richard Brown, the grandfather of Dr. Brown, was a native of Tennessee and a pioneer settler of Southern Ilinois, settling in Massae county, near Metropolis, in the early '40s. Ilis son. R. W., also born in Tennessee, was a lad when the family came to Illinois, and here he learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed at Anna for a few years previous to settling on a farm near Buncombe, Johnson county.
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Later he bought another tract of land, one and one-half miles west of Vienna, and there continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1899. Early in life he was united in marriage with Mary A. Peterson, who was born in 1834, at West Eden, daughter of Owen and granddaughter of Thomas Peterson, natives of Tennessee, and she died in March, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had six children, as fol- lows: Mrs. Ellen Thacker, George W., Olive (deceased), Owen P., Albert (who died in infancy), and Austin Irvin.
Austin Irvin Brown received his primary education in the district schools, and later attended select schools in Vienna, taught by Pro- fessor W. Y. Smith and Joseph W. Smith. Beginning in 1887, he taught school for three years, and in the meantime, in 1889, began the study of medicine. In 1890 he entered the P. M. College, in In- dianapolis, which he attended for one term, and then, after passing the examinations of the State Medical Board of Arkansas, he practiced medicine in that state for a period of six months during 1891. In the fall of that year he entered Marion Sims College of Medicine, at St. Louis, and by pursuing his studies during an extended term of seven and one-half months, in order to meet the requirements of the State Medical Board, he graduated in the spring of 1892, with the degree of M. D. Loeating at Belknap, Johnson county, he practiced medicine successfully until 1900, and then after a three months' stay in Cairo, in partnership with Dr. Hall Whiteaker, he established himself in Vienna. Dr. Whiteaker subsequently located in Mound City, and since that time Dr. Brown has been in charge of a constantly increasing clientele. Ile is progressive in his ideas and is constantly seeking to advance himself in his profession, having taken three post-graduate courses during his professional experience. In 1899 he took a course in the Chicago Polyclinic Institute: in 1906 he pursued a post-grad- nate course in the New York Polyclinic, and in 1909, took another course in the Chicago school. Dr. Brown is an active member of the Egyptian Medical Association. comprising the physicians of Johnson, Williamson, Massac and Pope counties, and has served as president of this society for two terms. He is also a member of the Illinois State and American Medical Associations. His fraternal connections are with the A. F. & A. M., Blue Lodge, of Vienna; Royal Arch, of Vienna : Knights Templar, of Cairo; the Modern Woodmen: the Royal Neighbors; the Eastern Star; the Odd Fellows; the Rebekahs and the Modern Brotherhood of America, all of Vienna. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both he and his wife have shown much interest in religious and charitable work.
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