USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 38
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XI
All hail to him, our guide, our chief, Who gave to us what we live for ;
The seed he sowed we now do reap,
Peace gave us as the fruits of war.
XII
And shall we have his name forgot ? To be no more as is his dust ;
Revere his name what'er our lot, Let's praise him for our precious trust.
XIII
Whose name in history doth shine ? America's wise and brave son ; Whose soul on high should live as time ? It is onr George, George Washington.
DAWSON MANON FARRIS. Even in an age that expects much from its young men in the profession, publie life and business, and in a state which has beeome noted for the men of the younger generation who are holding places of importance in every field. few have achieved the suc- cess that has come so early to Dawson Manon Farris, who with his father is engaged in dealing in implements at Vienna, Illinois. Mr. Farris was born April 16, 1889, on a farm in Vienna township, John- son county, Illinois, and is a son of James Franklin Farris.
The education of Dawson M. Farris was seenred in the public schools which were located in the vicinity of his father's farm, and from which he graduated at the age of sixteen years, and the Sonthern Illinois Normal University, where he was a student during the years 1906 and 1907. He then associated himself with his father, who had entered the farming implement business at Vienna, and this association has con- tinned unbroken to the present time with the exception of about one year. In October, 1909, Dawson M. Farris decided to take a trip through the western and northwestern states to find out if he could get a better locality in which to settle and establish himself in business, but in October, 1910, returned to his home county, fully confident that it was the best field for his activities. He is possessed of more than ordinary business ability, and the suecess which he has gained has come through the medium of his own efforts. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonie Lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America, at Vienna, in both of which he is very popular.
On October 10. 1910. Mr. Farris was married at Vienna to Miss Zona Allard, of Simpson, Illinois, daughter of W. C. and Gertrude (Huffman) Allard. Mr. and Mrs. Farris are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are well and favorably known in religions and social circles of Vienna.
SAM A. THOMPSON, M. D. For fifteen years a practicing physician and surgeon in Southern Illinois and since June, 1911, a resident of Mount Vernon. Dr. Thompson is a wholesale example of what may be
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accomplished by a man in the way of advancement when he is the pos- sessor of a legitimate ambition, with the determination and ability to supplement that ambition. Beginning life with merely a common school education, Dr. Thompson when a boy of sixteen began to work with the intention of ultimately continuing his studies as a result of his labors, to the end that he might later become a member of that profession to which he aspired, and whose ranks he has graced through fifteen years of careful and efficient service.
Sam A. Thompson, M. D., was born on February 5, 1869, in Cale- donia, Minnesota. IIe is the son of J. R. Thompson, a native of Mis- souri, who migrated to Minnesota. In his earlier life J. R. Thompson was a steamboat captain, but in 1873 he engaged in the wholesale grocery business. He later removed to Sioux City, fowa. but now resides in Louisiana, Missouri, where he is again engaged in the steamboat business. Together with a company of other men in Louisiana, Missouri, he is the owner of a line of river steamers, and they are condneting a thriving bust- ness in that line of industry. Mr. Thompson served in the Union army as captain of a company which he raised for the service, and did vahant duty for the cause during the period of his enlistment.
J. R. Thompson married Maggie E. Damron, of Missouri. a daughter of James and Maggie (Thurman) Damron, of Virginia. She was a cousin of Allen G. Thurman, one-time candidate for the vice-presidency. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson reared five children, all of whom are living. They are Harry L., in Tulsa. Oklahoma; Myrtie E. Moore, living in Grand Junction, Colorado ; Sam A., of this sketch ; Claude D., of Colon, Panama; and Mand ..
Sam A. Thompson was a regular attendant of the public schools of Sioux City, Fowa, in which city he was reared. When he was sixteen years of age he left school and secured employment in a retail store In Sioux City, remaining there for some little time. His next move took him to Austin, Texas, where he was employed as traveling salesman for a wholesale dry goods firm, being thus ocenpied for the space of three years. In 1893 he had accumulated sufficient from his labors of the previous years to permit him to enter Barnes Medical College in St. Lonis, and there he completed the studies he had been condueting through several years past, graduating from that institution in April. 1897. with his well earned degree of M. D. The young doctor began practice im- mediately, settling in Ina, Jefferson county, and remaining there for fourteen years, where he built up a wide general practice and made a host of warm and admiring friends the while. In June, 1911. Dr. Thompson came to Mount Vernon and opened an office in the hospital consultation rooms. In the brief time of his location here Dr. Thomp- son has become well and favorably known among the profession, and is identified with the foremost people of the city in numerous ways. He has become the owner of two valuable farms of one hundred and twenty aeres each near Springfield, Illinois, and is a director of one of the Ina banks. He has been identified with Masonry for a number of years and has attained to the thirty-second degree in that fraternity. He is a member of the Blue Lodge of Ewing, the Chapter of Mount Vernon and the Oriental Consistory of Chicago.
In April, 1902. was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Thompson with Mary C. Berger, of Jefferson county, but born and reared in Menard county. Three children have been born to them. They are Louis, aged seven years: Henry, tive years old; and Margaret, who came to them one year ago.
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DEWITT C. YOUNGBLOOD. "An honest man is able to speak for him- self, when a knave is not," so, according to the Bard of Avon, Dewitt C. Youngblood should be allowed to tell his own story, for honesty is the keynote of his character, and realizing this his fellow citizens have done him the honor of electing him county treasurer, but since his modesty is too great to permit him to give a fair idea of what he has accomplished, the task must fall to another. All of his life save the time that he has spent in the service of his friends and neighbors in some political capacity has been devoted to farming in Jefferson county and his relations with the life of the county have been of the closest.
Dewitt C. Youngblood was born on the 15th of February, 1849, on a farm near Crab Orehard in Williamson county. He was the son of John J. Youngblood, who was born in Tennessee, in 1827. The paternal grandfather of Dewitt was James Youngblood, who settled in Williamson county when it was still practically a wilderness and when clearing the land was one of the heaviest tasks that fell to his lot as a farmer. During a deer drive he was accidentally shot, and though he apparently recovered he died a few years later from the effects of the wound, and he now lies buried about six miles southeast of Marion. John J. Youngblood was yet a boy when his father came to Southern Illinois, this migration taking place somewhere in the thirties. Until near the middle of the century he was content to stay on the home farm and assist his father. During the early 'fifties, however, he decided to strike out for himself and settled on a farm in Elk Prairie. In 1854, growing restless, he took a trip through the northwest, which at that time was the haunt of the Indian, the buffalo and the fur trader. He was gone about five years, returning home by way of the southwest. Before settling down to a farmer's life he had served in the Mexican war, from 1846 to 1848, under General Zachary Taylor, therefore he was particularly interested in the country through which he passed on the latter part of his journey, for much of it had been won for the United States during the Mexican war, and when he realized the vast extent of the country and the riches which could be only guessed, he was more than ever proud that he had helped to secure this great area for the country of his birth.
The wife of John J. Youngblood was Miss Mary Ann Fisher, the daughter of Jason C. Fisher, who was a native of North Carolina and one of the earliest settlers in Williamson county. In the spring of 1855, following the example of his son-in-law, he set out for a trip through the northwest, going by boat to St. Paul, but he did not proceed far on his journey before death overtook him and he passed away in lowa in May of that year. John J. was the father of six sons and four daughters: John J., who died in Missouri; Dewitt C .; Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Robinson and resides in California ; James M .. who died in 1880; Parlee, now Mrs. Hudson, of Oklahoma; Albert, who died in his youth ; Mary Jane (Buoy), who lives in lowa; Ransom A .. also living in Iowa ; Milley L., who died at the age of four years; and Henry who also died, in southwestern Missouri. Mr. Youngblood himself did not live to reach his prime, dying in 1873, on the 7th of December.
Dewitt C. Youngblood was reared on the farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools. When he was twenty-one years of age he left home and began to work for himself. He married and took his bride to a little log cabin on a farm in Spring Garden township, where he began as a tenant farmer. The young couple put away every penny and resorted to every manner of self sacrifice until finally they had saved up' enough to buy a farm of their own. The first farm consisted of seventy aeres, but by dint of careful management they succeeded in
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accumulating two hundred and forty acres, which has since been divided among the children, Mr. Youngblood having reserved only eighty-seven acres for himself. This farm lies in Spring Garden township, where he first started out, and it is all under a high state of enltivation.
In politics Mr. Youngblood is a Democrat, and he has served his party many times in different capacities. He acted as highway com- missioner in 1891, served as township assessor and has filled numerous township offices, such as township supervisor, which post he held for two terms. In 1910 he was elected to the office which he now holds, that of county treasurer, his term to expire in 1914.
Ilis marriage to Parlee Harmon took place in October, 1871. She was the daughter of Littleton Harmon, of Jefferson county, and died on the 20th of January, 1894. She was the mother of seven children. most of whom are married and have families of their own. Ida May (Holeman), who lives in Arkansas, is the mother of eight children : Mary J., who is Mrs. Gibson, and lives in California; Alice, now Mrs. Rankin, is living in Jefferson county; Rosa, who married Mr. Boyle. has one child; Ollie, is Mrs. Fitzgerald ; Myrtle, now Mrs. Claude Nel- son, lives in Colorado; and Jessie, who is teaching school at Windfield. Illinois.
WILLIAM THEODORE GLASS. Public-spirited, enterprising and pro- gressive, William Theodore Glass occupies a position of prominence among the foremost business men of Harrisburg, which has been his home for a score of years. A son of Francis S. Glass, he was born September 4, 1855, near Golconda, Pope county, Ilinois, coming from honored pioneer ancestry. His paternal grandfather, David Barnhill Glass, a native of North Carolina, migrated to Tennessee in early man- hood, and there married. Abont 1810 he came with his bride to Illi- nois, settling on the Old Cape Girardeau road, near what is now Gol- conda. Pope county, but was then called Green's Ferry. He took up land, and there trained his children to habits of industry and honesty. On the farm which he redeemed from its primitive wildness one of his sons. James L. Glass, lived until his death, in 1904. Another son. John B. Glass, who lived to the venerable age of ninety years, was a leading member of the Presbyterian church from his boyhood days until his death, serving for many years as an elder, while his house was head- quarters for all the church people of that denomination.
Francis S. Glass was born on the home farm in Pope county, Illi- nois, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder. During the progress of the Civil war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and continued with his command until honorably discharged at the close of the conflict. One of his brothers, William Glass, was in the employ of the government at the same time, building gun boats on the Ohio river. Francis S, Glass at- tained a good old age, passing away at the age of seventy-eight years. Ile married Emily Modglin, who was born in Pope county, Illinois. Her father, James Modglin, came from North Carolina to Ilinois in an early day, locating at what is now Goleonda, just opposite the pioneer home of the Glass family, where he was for years a frontiersman mer- chant and trader. Francis S. Glass became identified with the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, of which he was an active and vahed member during the greater part of his life. To him and his wife six children were born and reared. namely : Felix and Amzi who died in early manhood; William Theodore, the special subject of this brief sketch : Louis A .. died at the age of forty years: Ellen, wife of Porter A. Rector.
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of Cass City ; and Emma, wife of John L. Marberry, of Johnson county, Illinois.
After leaving the district school, in which he gleaned his early edu- cation, William T. Glass learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed in Pope county until thirty years of age, having a shop and mill near the village of Golconda. Coming from there to Saline county in November, 1891, Mr. Glass opened a mercantile establishment at Har- risburg, and, in company with the late M. Johnson, dealt in agricultural implements, wagons, machinery, etc., until the death of his partner. Buying out then the interests of Mr. Johnson's heirs in the business. Mr. Glass conducted it successfully until 1906. at which time it had assumed large proportions, its stock being valued at from $8,000 to $10,000, while its annual trade amounted to about $20,000. Mr. Glass in the meantime had also dealt a good deal in real estate, buying good farming property, which he sold at an advance.
For the past five years he has been an extensive trader, and has taken contracts for building road bridges in Saline county, in 1911 having erected. four steel and concrete bridges, varying in length from twenty to forty feet, at the same time continuing his dealings in realty.
An active worker in Republican ranks, Mr. Glass has served as town- ship supervisor, and is now, in 1911, assessor of Harrisburg township, which includes the city of Harrisburg. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, belonging to both the lodge and the chapter; and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Grand Lodge. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder.
Mr. Glass married, at the age of twenty years, Mary J. Dill, of Pope county, who died in Harrisburg, Illinois, leaving seven children, namely : Rherla, wife of Morris Gaskins, a Saline county farmer; Era, wife of Webb Ingraham, a traveling salesman ; Lula, wife of Edward Ilorning, a grocer; Mabel, wife of Arthur Miehem, a mine examiner: Esther, wife of Sherman Wilie, a coal miner; Bessie, wife of Louden MeCor- miek. a clerk in a coal office ; and Theodore. a coal mine operator. Mr. Glass married for his second wife Miss Georgia A. Rude, who was born in Cottage Grove township, Saline county, where her parents, John Slayton and Hannah Rude, spent the later years of their lives.
WILLIAM S. PAYNE. The sheriff of Jefferson county, William S. Payne, is known throughout the county for his personal bravery and for his faithful devotion to his rather ardnous duties. He comes of an old pioneer family, his grandfather having been one of the first settlers in Jefferson county, and his father having been born in this eounty. Mr. Payne is in reality a farmer and a very successful one, but he operates his farm from the city of Mount Vernon, where he lives mainly to give his family the advantages they might not be able to have on the farm. Although in his duties as sheriff he is foreed into contact with the seamy side of human life and sees much that might shake his faith in humanity, he is a firm believer in the innate goodness in every human being and it is perhaps the knowledge of this kindly trait that makes him so popular throughout the county.
William S. Payne was born in a big old farm house on the 9th of November, 1867. The house of his birth was situated in Shiloh town- ship. Jefferson county, and his parents were Joseph T. Payne and Moniea (Hutchinson) Payne. Joseph T. Payne was born in 1846, and was raised in the section where he first saw the sunlight, namely, Shiloh township. His father, Joseph Payne, was a native of Tennessee, but spent most of his long life in Shiloh township, dying at the age of
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eighty. Joseph T. Payne devoted himself to agrienltural pursuits dur- ing many years of his life. But this was only a side issue, for he felt that his real work was in his service as a Baptist minister, and all of his life he has labored for the betterment of humanity and the improve- ment of the conditions under which we live. He is now retired and is living quietly at home on the old farm, but his influence, though no longer an active one, is still strongly felt and the memory of words he has spoken are treasured up in many hearts. His gift of eloquence was of great service to him when he was elected to the state senate as a mem- ber from the forty-sixth senatorial district, and he gave efficient service to his constituents during his term of four years.
William S. Payne is the eldest of fourteen children, cleven of whom are living. Besides William these are James II. : Ella, who is Mrs. Wat- kins, wife of the cashier of the bank at Woodlawn : Lawrence, who is a farmer : Alpha ( Webb), who married a farmer : Ilattie ( Alvis), the wife of one of the principals of the city schools of Cairo, Illinois; Joseph H. and Arthur, both farmers; Gleason : Edith, a teacher in the Mount Ver- non schools; and Gincie, as yet a student in the township high school.
William S. Payne was reared on the farm and brought up to realize that the simplest joys in life are the hardest to get and the easiest to lose, and that the possession of these are what brings the most happiness, con- sequently he has never hungered for the possessions of a millionaire or the evanescent joys of life in a big city. He received a liberal educa- tion in the schools of the district, but being the oldest in his family his help was too valuable to permit him to leave home and take work in any higher institutions of learning, so he remained at home and helped his father until he was twenty-five, when he began to farm for himself. He purchased a farm of a hundred and forty aeres, which he still owns and operates. He lived on the farm until 1906, when he removed to Mount Vernon.
In politics Mr. Payne has always been an enthusiast, his affiliations being with the Democrats. His election to his present office took place in November, 1910, and the term for which he was elected is one of four years. Fraternally Mr. Payne is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Red Men of Mount Vernon. With the father that Mr. Payne has it is small wonder that he is an active member of the church to which he belongs, namely, the First Baptist church of Mount Vernon. He is a regular attendent, at both the church services and at Sunday-school. and is one of the deacons, taking much of the responsibility of the finan- cial affairs of the church upon his shoulders.
Mr. Payne was married on the 16th of November, 1892, to Miss Minnie Jones, the daughter of S. W. Jones. Mr. Jones was one of the oldest pioneers in Jefferson county, and met a sad death in an accident on the railroad in September of 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Payne have had three children, two of whom died in infancy, leaving Howard, a bright little chap of seven years, his birthday being on the 20th of November, 1904.
DANIEL G. FITZGERRELL. One of the most prominent men of this part of Southern Illinois is Daniel G. Fitzgerrell, banker, large land owner and leading Mason. He is connected with no less than three of the substantial monetary institutions of this section. namely : the private bank of Watson, Fitzgerrell & Company, which he assisted in organizing and of which he is cashier; the First National Bank of Sesser, Illinois; and the Bank of Bonnie, Illinois. Of calm, sane and judicious char- acter, and even more careful of the interests of others than his own. he is of the best possible material for a financier and the county is indeed Vol. 111-17
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fortunate in possessing one of his calibre in a position of such im- portance. Mr. Fitzgerrell is a man of property and has eloquently manifested his confidence in the present and future prosperity of this part of the state by making himself the possessor of several hundred acres of land located in Franklin, Jefferson and Gallatin counties. Among his other interests he deals extensively in stock.
Mr. Fitzgerrell is a native son of Jefferson county, his birth having occurred within its boundaries February 10, 1869. He is the descendant of James J. Fitzgerrell, who removed from Indiana to Illinois when a young man, where he became a farmer and passed the remainder of his days. Ilis maternal grandfather also lived in Franklin county for a number of years, having come there as one of the early settlers. All of Mr. Fitzgerrell's forebears gave hand and heart to the men and measures of the Democratic party. His father and mother were James J. and Sarah (Whitlow) Fitzgerrell, the birth of the former having occurred near Richmond, Virginia, and that of the latter in Franklin county, near Ewing. The mother, whose demise occurred in 1903, and who was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, was the father's second wife, the death of his first wife, whose name was Patsy Ann Martin. having occurred in 1861. Evan Fitzgerrell, a leading citizen of Ben- ton, is a son of the previous marriage. The father's death was in 1889. and he is remembered as one of the most successful farmers and stock- raisers in the history of Jefferson county. He eventually became the owner of a large tract of land. He was a Mason and an active member of the Missionary Baptist church and all good canses were sure of his support.
Mr. Fitzgerrell received a good education, and after leaving his desk in the public school room became a student in Ewing College, from which he was eventually graduated. His first experience as a wage- earner was in the capacity of a bookkeeper at Marion, which position he held for one year. Ile then embarked in business on his own account. choosing the hardware field. After a time in this occupation he accepted the position of deputy postmaster at Mount Vernon, which he held for three years. After that he traveled extensively as salesman. In 1903 he entered upon his career as a banker, in which he has been eminently successful, and in which he has displayed ability of a high order. In that year he organized the private bank of Watson, Fitzgerrell & Com- pany, and in the division of offices himself assumed that of cashier. This bank has a large capital stock and is conducted upon the seenrest and most admirable principles. Mr. Fitzgerrell is a man of wealth, the nucleus of his fortunes having been a heritage left to him by his father.
On May 25. 1887, Mr. Fitzgerrell was happily married to Pauline Goddard. daughter of Monroe Goddard. an early settler of Williamson county, her grandfather having brought his family here as one of the earliest of the pioneers. Ile was a merchant and played a prominent and praiseworthy part in the many-sided life of his community, leav- ing behind him for generations to come an example worthy of emulation. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerrell have reared a family of three children, all promising young citizens. Monroe G. is his father's assistant in the bank ; Jack A. is a student in Ewing College: and Mary K. is pursuing her publie school studies.
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerrell are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the former is a widely known Mason, belonging to Ewing lodge, No. 705: H. W. Hubbard Chapter, No. 160. Mount Vernon; and the Knights Templar. No. 64. Mount Vernon. He is the district grand deputy of the Forty-fifth Masonic district and is also
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