USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 61
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Senator Isley was married in 1903, to Miss Grace M. Sullender, a native of Newton. One child has been born to them, a son, Leslie L. Both the senator and his wife are interested in the truest manner in the many-sided life of town and county and maintain a hospitable abode. Senator Isley finds pleasure in his fraternal affiliation with the time- honored Masonie order and the Modern Woodmen of America.
GUY CARLETON BARCLAY. Noteworthy among the active and valued citizens of Carlyle is Guy Carleton Barelay, who was widely known to the traveling publie as agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, a po- sition for which he was eminently fitted. and in which he gave the ut- most satisfaction to all eoneerned during the years of his service, which he terminated in March, 1912. A son of James Barelay, Jr., he was born May 28, 1859, in Weston, Platte county, Missouri, of Southern ancestry.
His grandfather, James Barelay, was for many years a prominent resident of Paris, Kentucky, where he carried on a thriving business as a dealer in live stock, making frequent trips with boat loads of horses from Louisville to New Orleans. On one of his business journeys he was strieken with yellow fever, which caused his death in 1830. His widow died three years later, in 1833, during a siege of cholera which in that year devastated the country.
Born in Paris, Kentucky, October 10. 1821, James Barelay, Jr., was left an orphan in boyhood. He was educated principally in George- town, Kentucky, and after his graduation from Georgetown Academy, at the age of sixteen years. he began teaching school, and followed that profession for several years. He was afterwards manager and propri- etor of the Georgetown Hotel for some time. Migrating to Missouri in 1859 with his family, he spent a brief time in St. Louis, and then went to Weston, Missouri, where he represented a large mercantile house, having charge of its branch store at that place. Coming from there to Carlyle. Illinois, in 1860, he was the first publisher of the Carlyle Con- stilulion, and for a number of years was superintendent of the Carlyle schools. a position that he also filled in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1873 and 1874. He was a noted educator, especially brilliant in mathe- maties. a branch that he often taught in county institutes. He died in 1900. just one week after the death of his loved wife. He was a Demo- crat in polities and a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. He married in 1842 Miss Elizabeth Jones, of Georgetown, Kentucky,
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and to them five children were born, as follows: Sarah, the wife of Ed- win Fink; May, now a physician in Carlyle; Guy, of this sketch; Lina, living in St. Louis; and Lalee, deceased.
Spending his earlier days in Carlyle, Guy Carleton Barclay acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of this eity, completing his studies in the normal school at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. On re- turning with the family to Carlyle, he was for a time in the employ of Lafey Brothers as bookkeeper, but he afterwards engaged in the rail- road business, in February, 1880, being appointed agent for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, now known as the Southwestern branch of the Baltimore & Ohio. As stated in a previous paragraph, Mr. Barclay sev- ered his connection with the Baltimore & Ohio in March, 1912.
Politically Mr. Barclay is a Democrat. Hle is especially interested in advancing the educational interests of city and county, and for the past eighteen years he has been a member of the Carlyle board of edu- cation. He has labored wisely in the interests of the public schools, and was largely instrumental in securing the site for the present beautiful school building of the city, and in causing its subsequent erection.
Mr. Barclay married in 1886 Miss Annie Lietez, a daughter of Hon. Frederick A. Lietez, of Carlyle, and to them five children have been born, namely : Guy C., Jr., Anna Lietez, Emma E., Robert H. and Paul C. Fraternally Mr. Barclay is a member of the Masonic order.
HENRY Cox. No list of professional men of Jackson county would be complete without extended mention being made of its educators whose untiring labors during the past decade have brought the standard of education in this section to a point where it is unexcelled by any com- munity in Southern Illinois, and who, not content with present condi- tions, are laboring faithfully to still further advance their chosen work and by their example set a pace that will be worthy of emulation by teachers all over the state. Professor Henry Cox, principal of the pub- lie schools of Oraville, is one of those whose work as an educator has had much to do with the present desirable condition of affairs, and his entire professional career has been spent in the schools of Jackson county. He was born on his father's farm in Levan township, June 16, 1870, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Mary B. (Crossin) Cox.
Benjamin F. Cox was born at Beaver Dam, Kentucky, in 1842, and as a vonth accompanied his parents to Indiana and from that state to Illinois. When Benjamin was a lad of ten years his family located on a farm situated on the road leading from Murphysboro to Carbondale. and as a youth he hunted squirrels on the present site of the former city with his chums, John and Thomas Logan. Reared to agricultural pursuits, he followed the vocation of farmer throughout his life. and at the time of his death, which occurred Oetober 3, 1895, he was the owner of an excellent property situated two miles southwest of Oraville. In political matters he was a Democrat, but took only a good eitizen's inter- est in public matters, and the only office he held was that of deputy sheriff under his brother. Sheriff William Cox. familiarly known as "Biddle," who hekl that office in Jackson county for many years. His wife, who was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. South, was a native of Jackson county, and died on the home farm Jan- uary 2. 1911. Of their six children Henry was the fifth in order of birth and he and his brother. Samuel Cox, who is engaged in the laundry business at Colorado Springs, Colorado, are the only survivors.
As a youth Henry Cox attended the publie schools in the vicinity of his father's farm, and this training was supplemented by attendance at the Southern Illinois Normal School at Carbondale and the normal
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school at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, graduating from the latter in 1891. Since that time he has been engaged in teaching at various places in Jackson county, at the same time conducting the farm with his father, since whose death Mr. Cox has owned the homestead and superintended its operation. The Oraville school has an enrollment of sixty pupils, in- cludes eighth grade work, and some high school training has also been done. A close student of educational methods and conditions, Mr. Cox has proved an able and efficient tutor, and he has given of the best of himself in training the youthful minds placed under his care. He has, however, found time to serve his township in public office, has served as assessor and collector, and was elected on the Democratie ticket to the position of deputy sheriff of Ora township, in which capacity he is at present aeting. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and he is popular with his fellow lodge members, as he is also in his profession and with his pupils.
On June 19, 1892, Professor Cox was married to Miss Maggie Under- hill, daughter of William Underhill, a farmer of Jackson county, and five children have been born to them, namely: Arthur, Arden, Floyd, Mabel and Jessie.
CICERO L. WASIIBURN, M. D). After a number of years devoted to the professions of teaching and medicine Dr. Cieero L. Washburn, of Marion. is now devoting himself to the affairs of his farm, and is living a quiet, unpretentious life. He gained a widespread reputation both as a physician and educator, and is now proving himself just as efficient in the agricultural field, his farm being one of the most productive of his section. Dr. Washburn was born near Carthage, Smith county, Tennes- see. August 10, 1852, and he is a son of the late Hon. James M. Wash- burn.
Dr. Washburn was five years of age when his father eame to Illinois, and was reared in Marion and near Carterville, where his parents spent many years of their vigorous lives. After the common schools he at- tended Ewing College, where he graduated in 1874, and entered the profession of teaching, following it a few years at DeSoto. Illinois, and in Fredonia, Kentucky. Finding the indoor work telling upon his health. he decided to study medicine, and read under the direction of Dr. S. H. Bundy, who had been once a member of the faculty of Van- derbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, and widely known as a scholar and Baptist minister. When ready for college he enrolled in the old Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, now a part of Washington Uni- versity of that city, and graduated therefrom in 1882. In choosing a location the Doetor selected Hampton, Kentucky, where he spent twelve years, and the two years that followed he was located at Rieh Hill, Mis- sonri. At this time he gave up the profession and eame to Marion, de- siring to be near his father, who was then approaching the evening of life, and since then his activities have been directed to the affairs of the farm.
Dr. Washburn was first married at Metropolis. Illinois. in October. 1896, his wife being Miss Katie Markey, who died in 1898, without liv- ing issue. On June 1. 1899, the Doctor married Mrs. Laura Champion, the daughter of Rev. M. H. Utley, a Baptist minister. The children of Mrs. Washburn by her first marriage are three. as follows: Pauline, who is the wife of George H. Dietrich, of Marion, a traveling salesman ; Claude Champion, who is the proprietor of a buteher establishment in Marion; and Robert G. Champion. of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, a sales- man for the Banke-Wenneeke Candy Company.
Dr. Washburn is fraternally connected with the Elks and his re-
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ligious belief is that of the Baptist church. Ile is not concerned with politics, other than taking a citizen's interest in good government, but casts his vote with the Democratic party. Dr. Washburn has always been identified with movements of a religious, educational or charitable nature, is considered one of the good, reliable citizens of his community. and has a host of warm, personal friends in this locality.
HUGH PENVLER, M. D). Reputed one of the most skilful physicians of Jefferson county. Hugh Penvler, M. D., of Ina, pays close attention to his professional duties, and by means of his acknowledged skill and high personal character has built up a fine practice. A son of the late Dr. H. J. Penvler, he was born July 10, 1864, in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
Dr. II. J. Penvler was born in East Tennessee, in 1837. and died at Mount Vernon, Illinois, April 23, 1899, aged sixty-two years. An am- bitions student and a lover of books he was given excellent educational advantages when young, and after his graduation from the old Emory & Henry College, where he completed the elassieal course, he entered the Missouri Medieal College, in Saint Louis, from which .he was graduated with the degree of M. D. He subsequently held the chair of physiology in the Missouri Medieal College for a number of years, during which time he was honored with a degree from the University of Nashville, in Nashville, Tennessee. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he offered his services to his country, enlisting in the Federal army, and for a time was army surgeon at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1862, he located at Mount Vernon, Illinois, and was there actively engaged in the practice of medicine until his death. He married Ellen Hawkins, a daughter of Samuel Hawkins, who migrated from Indiana to Jefferson county, Illi- nois, in pioneer days, and they reared two children, namely : Hugh, the subject of this sketch ; and Mrs. Nora Hartzell, of Mount Vernon. The mother still occupies the old homestead in Mount Vernon.
Receiving his preliminary training in the public schools of Mount Vernon, Hugh Penvler subsequently attended the Southern Illinois Nor- mal University in Carbondale, and in 1883 began the study of medicine in Saint Louis, at the Missouri Medical College. Going to Nashville, Ten- nessee, in 1884, he was graduated from the medieal department of the University of Nashville in the spring of 1885, and during the following nine years he was associated with his father in the practice of medicine at Mount Vernon. Removing to Spring Garden in 1894, Dr. Penvler was there prosperously engaged in the practice of his profession for ten years. Coming to Ina in 1904, he has here built up a lucrative patronage, being numbered among the leading physicians of the county. Ile is well known in professional eireles, and is a member of the Southern Illinois Medical Society.
Dr. Penvler married, in July, 1894, Maggie MeCullough, a daughter of James and Susan A. MeCullongh, and their attractive home is always open to their many friends and acquaintances.
Fraternally the Doctor has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since attaining his majority. and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Court of Honor. Ile for- merly had title to ninety-two aeres of good farming land, but he sold it recently and is not now a landholder to any extent, his town property being his only real estate holdings.
ILARRY STOTLAR. Even in an age when much is demanded of the men of the younger generation few have attained to such prominence in the business world as has been the portion of Harry Stotlar, whose activities in the commercial and financial world have made his name well known all
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over Franklin and Williamson counties. As the leading spirit in a num- ber of large enterprises he has served to advance the interests of his native locality, and the success that has come to him has been the result of his own unaided efforts. Mr. Stotlar was born October 15, 1881, in Williamson county, Illinois, and is a son of James L. and Alice (Cox) Stotlaı.
Samuel Stotlar, the grandfather of Harry Stotlar, was born in Penn- sylvania, and came to Illinois with his family in 1855, settling on a farm in Williamson county, where he spent the remainder of his life. His son, James L., accompanied the family to this county, stopping for a short time in Ohio, and was reared on the homestead in Williamson county, the town of Ilerrin later being built on that property. James L. Stotlar was largely interested in selling land for building lots, became financially successful, and now lives on land situated south of Herrin, where he is en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a Republican in polities, but he has always been an onlooker rather than an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. Mrs. Stotlar's father, George Cox, was a native of Virginia. from which state he brought his family to Williamson county about the same time as the advent of the Stotlars, and the remainder of his life was spent in farming here, his farm being situ- ated about three miles east of IIerrin. Two of his sons enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil war, and both lost their lives in battle.
Harry Stotlar secured his educational training in the Herrin public schools, and his first serious employment was with his uncle, W. N. Stotlar, with whom he engaged in the lumber business with a capital of $3,000, borrowed money. After remaining with him three years Mr. Stotlar was encouraged by his snecess to assist in organizing and incor- porating the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Company, which was first capital- ized at $20.000. This business, modest in its inception, soon grew to such an extent that to carry on its dealings it was necessary for a recapi- talization, and there is now paid-up stock of $100,000, with a surplus of a like amount. This firm maintains yards at Herrin, Marion, Johnson City, Benton, West Frankfort, Christopher, Pittsburg and Franklin, and does a business amounting to $300,000 per annum. The officers are Fred Stotlar, a brother of Harry, president; Harry Stotlar, vice-presi- dent and manager of the business for Franklin county; E. M. Stotlar, a cousin, secretary. In addition to this, Harry Stotlar is a stockholder in the City Bank of Herrin, a director in the First National Bank of Chris- topher, president of the Benton Building and Loan Association and of the Christopher Building and Loan Association and a director in the West Frankfort Coal Company. He owns the bottling works at Benton and the Benton Steam Laundry. is heavily interested in building lots wherever he has lumber interests, and owns a half section of land near Benton, where he intends establishing a large stock farm.
Rated as one of the wealthiest men in Franklin county Mr. Stotlar's fortune has been gained in a strietly legitimate manner. and his reputa- tion is that of a man of integrity and high business principles. He has so directed his affairs that they have advanced his locality, and he has always taken a keen interests in movements that have been for the good of this section, although his business has been so heavy as to deprive him of the honor that public office would bring. A prominent Mason, Elk and Pythian, Mr. Stotlar has served as chancellor commander of the latter society, is popular in all three connections, and has a host of admir- ing friends in every locality to which his interests have called him.
H. S. Gordon.
propres 9-8g
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EMANUEL BELLMANN. A well-known and respected citizen of Jacob, Emanuel Bellmann is one of the leading general merchants of the place, and is serving acceptably as postmaster. A native of Missouri, he was born June 18, 1880, in Perry county, coming from German stoek. His father, Henry Belhmann, was born in Germany, February 27, 1839, and there learned the trade of cabinet maker. Coming to America when about twenty-five years old, he located in Perry county, Missouri, and for sex- eral years followed his trade at Altenburg, that state. Subsequently buying a traet of land near by, he improved a good farm, on which he has sinee resided. He is a man of worth and integrity, a sound Demo- erat in politics, and a devout member of the German Lutheran church. Hle married, in Germany, Engle Wichen, and of their eight children Emanuel, of this sketch, is the sixth child in order of birth.
Growing to manhood in Perry county, Missouri, Emanuel Bellmann was educated in private and public schools, completing the course of study in the grammar grades. Acquiring a thorough knowledge of agri- enlture while young, he spent several years of his earlier life on the home farm. Coming to Jackson eounty, Illinois, in 1901, he was for four years employed as a elerk in a store at Neunert, where he became familiar with the details of the business. In 1904 Mr. Bellmann, in company with Mr. Schweizer and his elder brother, opened a general store in Jacob, and within the next few years built up a substantial trade. Buying ont the interests of his partners in 1910, Mr. Bellmann has sinee conducted the business alone, and in addition to dealing in general merehandise earries a special line of undertaker's goods and is engaged in the under- taking business. In 1904 he was appointed postmaster at Jacob, reeeiv- ing his commission on September 22, and has since served in this eapae- ity
Mr. Bellmann married, in 1904, Martha Boehme, a daughter of Lewis Boehme, a Perry county Missouri, farmer, who served as a soldier in the Federal army during the Civil war, and to them three children have been born, namely : Stella, Cordelia and Elmer. A Republican in poli- ties, Mr. Bellman is now serving as treasurer of his home distriet school. He is a regular attendant of the German Evangelieal church, of which he and his wife are valned members.
REV. GEORGE ALEXANDER GORDON. The Free Baptist church has gained some of its most distinguished elergymen and most earnest workers from the Gordon family of Jackson county, members of which have won country-wide reputations in their ehosen vocation, and prom- inent among these may be mentioned the late Rev. Henry Smith Gor- don and his son, Rev. George Alexander Gordon, the latter of whom has also won recognition as a business man, agrieulturist and journalist. Probably there is no better known family in Jackson county than that of Gordon, and it is but fitting in respect for those who have passed away and in appreciation of those who are still carrying on their labors that a history of its members be presented in biographical form.
In looking for the founder of this branch of the family the first. of whom there is distinct trace is Richard of Gordon, who was Lord of the Barony of Gordon in the Merse between 1150 and 1160. Alieia IV of the Gordon family married her cousin, Adam Gordon. Their grand- son, Sir Adam, was the ancestor of all the Gordons of Scotland, accord- ing to Douglas. Robert Ist gave to him a charter to the lands of Strath- bogie (or Huntley). Sir Adam Gordon, in descent tenth of Gordon and Huntley, was killed at the battle of Homildon in 1402. leaving only a daughter, who married a Seton. Their eldest son, Alexander, assumed the name of Gordon, and in 1449 was created Earl of Huntley. The line of Huntleys and Gordon was noted for its warlike spirit. The fight-
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ing force of the clan was estimated at one thousand claymores in 1715. The Earls of Aberdeen, so created in 1682, are descended from Patrick Gordon of Methlic, cousin of the Earl of Huntley. From Scotland the first Gordon. the great-great-grandfather of Rev. George Alexander Gordon, came to American in 1697. he being connected with what is known as the Cumberland Valley Gordons, very numerous and exceed- ingly well known in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Rev. Henry Smith Gordon was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1816, the oldest child of George and Nancy Gordon, who brought him west when he was but a child. The family crossed the Mississippi river at St. Louis before the advent of ferry boats, but took the wheels off their wagon, and thus safely earried their horses and wagon across the river in a Hat-boat, it taking a number of trips to get the whole outfit aeross with a skiff and the flat-boat. The grandfather of Rev. Henry Smith Gordon, also named George, had gone to Missouri about 1800, long be- fore it was admitted to the Union as a state, and because of some com- plieity in the rightful ownership of a number of negroes in which his wife held first claim he was foully murdered one morning on his own door-steps by some one in ambush across the road from the house. The accused was the first person ever hanged in Missouri and in St. Louis, under law, and that was territorial law, in which the oldest son had the reprieving power. His son, however, George, a lad of fourteen years of age, refused to commute the sentence, and the village of St. Louis ·witnessed the first legal hanging. George then went back to Pennsyl- vania, grew to manhood, married and had three children, the oldest of whom was Henry Smith, and with his family wended his way back to his early home in Missouri.
Loeating baek of St. Louis about sixteen miles, on the Meramec river, the little family started its life in the new territory, and there the father built and operated for many years a grist mill and earding factory, the son growing to manhood and having instilled in him les- sons of integrity, industry and frugality which proved of inestimable value to him in the years that followed. He became in time a practical miller and engineer, and acquired some educational training. At the age of nineteen years he was married to Miss Rebeeea Young, and at that time, in 1835, his father gave him one hundred aeres of land. Ile began to improve his property, but finding this a slow and uphill busi- ness, he sold it for twelve hundred dollars, and removed to Southern Illinois, locating on wild prairie land in Short's Prairie, one and one- half miles east of Georgetown (now Steeleville), Randolph county. At this early day there were a great many difficulties to encounter and dis- couragements to face, and among other things he lost his first born, a little two-year-old girl. A son, however, took her place, and following this three boys gladdened the home, the oldest of whom, George Alex- ander, was born while the father was attending Shurtleff Theological College, at Upper Alton, Illinois. In 1848 Mr. Gordon's home was vis- ited by the Death Angel, the faithful wife passing into the Beyond, and for a time it was necessary that his little ones be eared for by others. The youngest was taken by a brother-in-law. Captain Seniea Parker, and the latter and his wife became so attached to him that they kept and reared him. On November 6. 1849, Rev. Gordon was again married. this time to Mrs. Nancy Hill, of Centerville, Illinois, who had a son, Wil- liam S. ITill. Five sons were born to Rev. and Mrs. Gordon: Abram G., Noel R., Charles S., Edward B. and Ora C. The entire family of ten children were raised to man and womanhood, all were married and had homes, and for fifty years there was not a death in the family (except the second son, Henry, who died in 1893), from the death of his wife in
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