USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 52
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The early education of Cecil Walker was received in Newton's public schools, in whose higher department he pursued his studies for a time. After the death of his father he left school and soon afterward entered upon the study of law under the direction of Judge Gibson, his kinsman, the firm of that well-known jurist being known as Gibson & Johnson. The subject's preparation for the profession with which he aspired to become identified was interrupted by a long period of illness, but upon regaining his health he continued his studies with the firm of Gaines & Kasserman. He remained with them until 1897, in May of which year he was admitted to the bar. His recognition was speedy and in a short time he was elected city attorney, which office he held for four years. Sub- sequent to that he was appointed master in chancery, which office he held for eight years, and in January, 1907, he became associated with JJudge Gibson in a law partnership. When there occurred a vacancy in the office of city attorney, in consideration of his former fine record as its in- cumbent Mr. Walker was appointed to till it. and in the spring the people confirmed their satisfaction in the matter by electing him.
Mr. Walker was married April 26. 1902, the young woman to become his wife being Stella Hester, daughter of Joseph H. and Letitia B. Hos- ter, of this place. They have no children. The subject is an affable and courteons gentleman and is very popular in the social circles of this place, as well as with his professional brethren and the general public.
CHARLES M. LYON, M. D. Few citizens of MeLeansboro, Illinois, are better or more favorably known than Charles M. Lyon, the oldest phy-
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sician in Hamilton county in point of practice, editor of The Leader, the second oldest newspaper in the county, veteran of the Civil war and a man who has always been prominent in publie and professional life. Born October 8, 1843, at Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county, Ohio, Dr. Lyon is a son of William and Catherine E. (Elrod) Lyon, the former born in 1815 and the latter in 1816, in Canada, in which country they were married. Dr. Lyon's parents moved to Pennsylvania about 1835, later removing to Ohio, and both died at Cleveland in 1854 of cholera. They had a family of ten children.
As a youth it was the ambition of Charles M. Lyon to become a doc- tor, but as his parents died when he was still a lad and he was thrown more or less on his own resources,, it proved a hard struggle. However, at odd times when he could leave his work he applied himself assiduously to his studies, which were interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war. In Angust, 1861, he enlisted from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, to which city he had come two years before. in Company 1, Forty-fourth Regiment, Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and served throughout the war with that organization, being mustered ont October 20, 1865, at which time he was captain of the same company, having won promotion through faithful, brave and meritorious service. On his return to Illinois he again took up his studies, and in 1867 began the practice of medicine at Mcleansboro, where he has followed his profession to the present time. In November, 1882, he became the founder of The Leader, a weekly pub- lication devoted to the best interests of MeLeansboro and Hamilton county, and it soon became recognized as a sheet of much influence in Re- publican polities. Always a hard and faithful worker in the ranks of the Republican party, Dr. Lyon was appointed postmaster at MeLeansboro in 1881, and again in 1890, and made an excellent official. He was a mem- ber of the thirty-first and thirty-second general assemblies of Illinois, and while acting in that capacity was a fearless advocate of the rights of his constituents, and earned the respect and esteem of his colleagues in those august bodies.
On May 13, 1880, Dr. Lyon was married to Miss Anna Wilson, who was born in McLeansboro about 1857, and she died Jannary 13. 1882, leaving no children. On March 26, 1884, Dr. Lyon was married to Miss Vashti Ravenscroft, who was born in 1867 at Owensville. Indiana, the estimable daughter of William and Catherine (Jackson) Ravenscroft, and to this union there has been born one child : Katharyn, May 28, 1885, who makes her home with her parents. Dr. Lyon is an excellent ex- ample of the best type of American citizenship. Showing his patriotism as a soldier in his country's time of need, proving himself an eminent member of Hamilton county's medical profession, making his mark in the journalistic field and attaining prominence as a publie official, he has a record in every walk of life that is withont stain or blemish, and he well merits the esteem and respect in which he is universally held.
THOMAS F. HOOPES, banker, finaneier and the leading business men of Sumner, was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, on the 4th of May, 1857. He is the son of Caleb and Margaret (Dennison) Hoopes. Caleb Hoopes was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, born in Westchester, that state, on June 11, 1827. He came to Illinois in 1851 and became in- terested in farming, in connection with which he ran a tannery, which trade he had learned while he was a resident of Indiana, between 1834 and 1851. He was a veteran of both the Mexican and Civil wars. In the Mexican war he served in the Third Indiana under General Lew Wallaee ; and in the Civil war he was a member of Company I of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois. He held the rank of sergeant during the
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latter named war. When peace was once more restored after the Civil war Mr. Hoopes returned to his home in Lawrence county, there becom- ing engaged in the mercantile business at Sumner. In 1867 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Sumner, and he retained that office during twenty- one consecutive years. He was supervisor of his township for several terms, and was the first mayor of Sumner under city organization. He was a strong Republican in his political affiliations and was always ac- tive and foremost in the political affairs of the county. In December, 1852, he married Miss Margaret Dennison, of Lawrence county, a dangh- ter of William Dennison. He was one of the oldest settlers of Law- the county, settling here in 1818, and witnessing the steady growth of the county and state through half a century of years, well spent in use- ful endeavor in the upbuilding of the country. Eight children were born to Caleb and Margaret Hoopes. Mr. Hoopes was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife. He was a charter member of the Summer church and a member of the board of trustees throughout his life time. He was a Mason of the Knight Templar degree and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Thomas F. Hloopes was the third child born to his parents in a goodly family of eight. As a boy he lived as the average son of a farmer until he was six years of age, at which time the family home became centered in Summer. Ile was educated in the public schools, after which he com- pleted a business course in the Terre Ilaute Commercial College. His first position was that of assistant postmaster continning for about four years, after which he was bookkeeper for the May Mercantile Company for three years. In 1879 he went into the mereantile business on his own responsibility, one year later forming a partnership with his brother-in- law, the firm being known as Echenrode & Hoopes. In 1892 Mr. Echen- rode retired from the firm and it became Hoopes & Barnes. Mr. Hoopes bought the interest of his partner, Mr. Barnes, in 1901, and thereafter conducted the business for himself until 1905, when he sold out to Mr. Barnes. In 1909 he with others organized the Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Mr. Hoopes holding the office of president of the institution, and under his conservative and able management the bank is prospering in a manner highly creditable to him and its board of directors, and aito- gether consistent with their methods of operation. Mr. Hoopes is seere- tary of the Citizens Oil Company and is in other ways extensively con- cerned in the oil business of the district. He was one of the company who drilled the first oil well in Lawrence county, and much of the prog- ress made in this industry in recent years has been due to his activities in the work. A staunch Republican, Mr. Hoopes has always given gen- erous and hearty support to the cause of that party, but is exceedingly averse to office-holding for himself, and has consistently withheld him- self from that phase of political life. He is a member of the city coun- eil, on which body he has done good work for Sumner.
On May 16. 1883, Mr. Hoopes was united in marriage with Cornelia F. Leeper, daughter of Rev. John Leeper, of Summer, one of the pioneer Methodist Episcopal clergymen of the southern part of the state. Three sons were born of this union : Thomas W .. a student of law at Blooming- ton, Hlinois : Robert V., a student in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York ; and John C., who died in youth. The wife and mother died in December 7, 1909, while on a visit at the home of her father at Nashville, Ilinois.
Mr. Hoopes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and is also a member of the board of trustees of that body. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, holding membership in the Knights Templar and in the Consistory of Chicago.
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EDGAR F. JOHNSON. One of the important figures in the business life of Newton is Edgar F. Johnson. For many years he was identified with the mercantile life of the town, and now he is doing even more to- wards the development of Newton by his activity in the real estate and loan business. Ile is the son of a remarkable father, a man who pos- sessed all the qualities that go to make the suceessful man, that is, an indomitable determination to let nothing stand in the way, the power of perseveranee and self confidence united with a willingness to take ad- viee. These qualities that made of the father a successful doetor have made of the son a successful business man.
Edgar F. Johnson was born at Alma, in Marion county, Illinois, on the 24th of April, 1867, the son of John B. Johnson. The latter had been born in Ohio, during the month of February, 1819, and had spent his childhood in learning the first principles of how to look out for him- self, for his father had died when John was a mere babe. Determined to get an education, he had attended sehool whenever he could, his duties at home often preventing. When he had finally acquired all the knowl- edge his home schools eould give him it seemed as though he would have to be content, for the nearest college was miles away, and he did not have the money to take him there had he had the money to pay for his tuition at the higher institution of learning. Nothing daunted, the lad rolled his elothes into a bundle, strapped his few books across his back and set out to tramp the hundred and fifty miles to the college of his choice. On his arrival, foot-sore and weary, his first move was not to enter the college buildingand matriculate, but to hunt for work. It took much pluck and hard work but supported by a burning desire for knowledge he worked his way through college, taking an eleetive medical course in the Medical College at Cineinnati. During the Civil war Dr. Johnson was assistant surgeon in the Seventy-second Indiana Regiment in Wiler's Brigade. He served through a good part of the war, and was discharged finally on account of ill health. There being no way in which he could longer serve his country he returned to Indiana and in 1866 moved to Illinois, where he located on a farm in Marion county, near Alma. His praetice was a large one, covering the territory about Alma and Shumway, and he stuek manfully by his guns, doing the work of two men, until his health permitted aetive work no longer, and he was forced to retire to Alma. His last years were spent at the home of his son, Edgar F. Johnson, at Newton, and here he died of heart failure in 1892.
He had always been an active political worker and upheld the ban- ner of the Whig party. As the people's candidate he served as a mem- ber of the house of representatives for one term, and fulfilled their ex- pectations to the highest degree. In religious matters he was a member of the Church of Christ and of the Missionary Baptist. In the latter denomination he preached for several years. His only interest in the fraternal world was in the Masonic order, in which he was a loyal worker.
Doetor Johnson was twice married. His first wife was a Miss David- son, whom he married in Indiana. By this marriage he had three ehil- dren, but the wife and mother died. He later married Rebeeea Adylotte, a native of the state of Indiana, and of this second marriage six children were born, E. F. being the next to the youngest. Mrs. Johnson's death preceded that of her husband, taking place in 1876.
Edgar F. Johnson spent his childhood in Alma, but when he was fourteen a great ehange eame into his life, for his father went to live for a few years in Arkansas. The country had not yet reeuperated from the disastrous years following the war, and the rough state of the country
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was a most decided contrast to the comfortable Illinois farm house that the boy had known as his only home. He acquired an education in the publie schools and on his return from Arkansas went to Altamont, where he went to work in the postoffice. He held this position for two years and then took a commercial course in Evansville Commercial College, Evansville, Indiana. In 1886 he found himself ready to start out in business, and had only to settle on a location. He was attracted to New- ton, and decided that the town offered just the inducements for which he was looking. so he came hither and opened up a mercantile establish- ment. For seventeen years he continued in this business and by his honest business methods and the good values which he offered his pa- trons in exchange for their money, he made a reputation for himself and his store that was founded upon the stable foundation of genuine worth. Eight years ago he sold out the business and went into a new line. that of real estate, loan and insurance. He has been engaged in this ever sinee, and the reputation which his straight-forward methods of buying and selling brought to him he has since upheld in his new field.
In politics Mr. Johnson is a Prohibitionist, and is much interested in the affairs of his local government, being always willing to fulfill the obligations which he owes as a citizen. Ile has served one term as a member of the school board and is always active in urging any move- ment conducive to the growth of Newton. To this end he is a member of the Commercial Club, which comprises the most progressive men in the town. In religious matters he is a member of the Church of Christ, and in the fraternal world belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1889 Mr. Johnson was married to Effie Humphreys, of Kinmundy, Illinois. She is the daughter of JJohn Humphreys, a farmer of Marion county. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Margaret Urilla.
AUSBY LAWRENCE LOWE is one of the best equipped and most able lawyers in Crawford county. He is not only a lawyer by training but one by nature, it being instinctive with him to weigh the merits of a case and look at it from every point of view. This natural tendency towards a judicial mode of thought has given him a great advantage over his fellows who were not so gifted, and in addition he possesses the capacity for hard work, so his success is not to be wondered at. He is a mem- ber of a firm which has perhaps the largest clientele of any firm in the county, some of the biggest cases in this seetion of the country having been handled by them. Not only as a lawyer, but as a member of the judicial body has Judge Lowe won fame. Hle has served several terms as county judge, and has shown himself to be possessed of so impartial a mind and so vast a store of knowledge that there is no doubt but that he may attain other positions on the bench if he so desires.
Ausby Lawrence Lowe was born in HIntsouville, Illinois, on the 18th of November, 1857. His father, Isaac N. Lowe, was the son of William Lowe and Elizabeth (Swain) Lowe. He was born in Lawrence county, Ilinois, on the 9th of November, 1829. When the boy Isaac was only eleven years old his father died, and the support of the family fell prin- eipally upon his young shoulders. He was a courageous youngster, and took up this load bravely, and learned the lessons of hardship and re- sponsibility all too early. His boyhood was spent on a farm and he worked early and late, doing tasks that a grown man would think too hard, but he only thrived on hard work. His great regret was that he had no more opportunities for education, but he made up for his lack as best he could. When he became a man he went into the mercantile business at Hutsonville, which continued to be his vocation until the
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breaking ont of the Civil war. An interruption came to the quiet course of his affairs when this dawning calamity broke out, for, being young and enthusiastic. yet being old enough to fight, not because the excite- ment of the day had swept him off his feet, but because he thought the canse of the Union was right and just, he enlisted in the army and served in Company C. One Ilundred and Fifty-second Ilinois regiment. After the war he again took up the life of a merchant, but in 1868 was elected justice of the peace and became a property agent. He spent the re- mainder of his life in that capacity, and died on the 6th of May, 1882. He was married on the 16th of October, 1856, to Amanda Hurst, a daughter of John R. and Naney (Barlow) Inrst. The death of his wife occurred on the 13th of March, 1860. after a short married life of four years. Ausby Lawrence Lowe was the only child.
.Indge Lowe was only a baby when he lost his mother, and he is the more to be commended on his success in life, not his material success, but his spiritual sucress. one might say. for a boy without his mother is like a ship without a rudder. A boy's mother has a quiet influence over him of which he is scarcely conscions, but which often saves him from losing sight of the ideal which she has set before him. He grew up in Hutson- ville, and received his early education at the village school. He later went to Earlham College, at Richmond, Indiana, which was at that time a Quaker school. Ile remained there for one term and then returned to Crawford county, and entered the office of the clerk of the circuit court. This event took place in 1877, on the 4th of December. He had not been in this office long before his remarkable ability for finding and rectify- ing mistakes was noted and the lawyers commented more and more upon his acenracy. Through the influence of his friends he was persuaded to take up the law and the firm of Callahan and Jones invited him to study in their offices, with the expectation of making him one of the firm when he should be prepared. His service in the circuit clerk's office was therefore terminated in 1884, and after three years spent in reading law with Callahan and Jones he was admitted to the bar in May, 1888. He was at once made a partner in the above firm, the name becoming Callahan. Jones and Lowe.
Judge Lowe has served two terms as master in chancery. In 1893, when Judge Crowley was appointed treasurer of the fisheries depart- ment, by a special election Judge Lowe was elected to the vacant seat on the bench. He was a candidate for this office in 1894, but was de- feated, however in 1898 he was again elected and was re-elected in 1902. He is a senatorial committeeman for the forty-eighth senatorial dis- triet, having held this position since the primary law. For sixteen years he was chairman of the Democratic central committee. and is intensely interested in politics. The Democratie party may always rely on his support and he is one of the most influential workers they have.
In 1906 Judge Lowe was made a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Robinson. By the death of Mr. Wood- worth on the 12th of November, 1911. the office of president was made vacant. Until the regular meeting of the directors in January the place remained vacant, and at that time Judge Lowe was elected to the presi- deney. which the members of the directorate believe him unusually well qualified to fill.
Judge Lowe was married on the 20th of November. 1879. to Miss Alice C. Hodge, born September 19. 1859, a daughter of William B. and Calista ( llillebert ) Hodge, of York, Illinois. Mrs. Lowe was a charm- ing woman, with a sweet and noble character, and it was a great sor- row not only to her family but to a largo circle of friends when she de- parted this life on the 28th of Angust. 1905. She left a family of four
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children. Ausby Lyman, who first graduated from the high school in Robinson, then went to De Pauw University, from which he was gradu- ated with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He received his profes- sional training at Rush Medical College, holding a degree of M. D. from that well' known school. At present he is practicing in Robinson. The second son, Clarence Hodge, after taking a high school course took up the study of dentistry at the Chicago College of Dental Surgery and is now practicing his profession here, where he was born and reared. Ethel- bert Coke, after graduating at the city high school, took his Bachelor of Arts degree at De Pauw, and is now studying law at the University of Chicago. The only daughter, Florence, is now a student at De Pauw.
GEORGE W. LACKEY has the distinction of belonging to a family who have lived for five generations in Ilinois. This is inclusive of Mr. Lackey's children. This is indeed a rare occurrence and on account of this it is easier to understand Mr. Lackey's love and loyalty to his native land. He is of that type of citizen that serves to give the op- timists foundation for their belief in the good of the human race and the evolution of society into a higher and better state of being, and it is such men as he who give the pessimists faint hope, and encourage those who are working to better conditions to take up their burdens and go forward. He is a lawyer by profession, but he has taken such a promi- nent part in both the business world and in the educational field that one must rank him as all three, lawyer, business man and edueator. He believes that with the education of the masses, meaning not a rudi- mentary education, but a thorough education, partienlarly along the practical lines of modern sociology and economics, a truer understanding of themselves and their social and economic conditions will come, and with such an understanding they wil be able to drag this country from the mire in which she seems to be now sinking. He pins his faith on the great American people, and believes that when we have assimilated the foreign element, it will be a much easier task to straighten out our civic affairs. Mr. Lackey keeps abreast of the times, and being a man of wide acquaintance and of a forceful personality, he has a very great influ- ence over the thought and aetions of the community in which he lives. What a blessing it is that he is a man of so fine a character, for he could wield a strong power for ovil.
The great-grandfather of George W. Laekey was Adam Lackey, who was a native of South Carolina. He was a soldier during the Revolu- tionary war and had been an aide to General Merriman. He came to Illinois about. 1811, bringing his family. In these days there were only a few scattered settlements, and most of these were clustered about a block house. The War of 1812 soon followed and with the massacre at Fort Dearborn the bloody strife with the Red Men was begun anew. Adam Lackey took his family to the fort at Russellville, but after the Indian troubles had been partially settled he went to farming. His son. lohn Lackey, whose birth had occurred in Tennessee, grew to manhood at the little Frontier settlement west of Russellville. In time he became a Farmer, and raised a family of eight children. His wife was Nancy Pinkstaff, who was a daughter of John Pinkstaff. Her father had set- tled in this section about 1818, and Mrs. Lackey was a fine type of the frontier woman, courageous, resourceful, strong in body and mind. James Lackey, the third of her children, is the father of George W. Lackey.
James Laekey was born on the 14th of October. 1842, in Lawrence county. He also grew up in the Russellville settlement. following in the steps of his fathers and becoming a farmer. He was married in 1862 Vol. III-23
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to Susan Seitzinger, who was a daughter of Leonard Seitzinger. The latter was a native of Pennsylvania, who had come to Illinois during the early sixties. He was a blacksmith by trade, but very naturally be- came a farmer when he came to the frontier country. Mr. and Mrs. Lackey had three children, of whom George W. was the eldest. The two daughters both married farmers. Priscilla is the widow of N. E. Parker, and Mary is the wife of William W. Zehner. Mrs. Lackey died in 1872 and Mr. Lackey married again. His second wife was Eliza Highsmith, of Crawford county. Five boys and one girl were born of this union, and the parents are now living on the farm where Mr. Lackey has spent his life, three miles west of Russellville. Mr. Lackey is a Democrat in politics, and has held various township offices. His re- ligious affiliations are with the Baptist church.
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