USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 62
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1848 until his own death in 1898. He continued to live on and improve his farm, but faiting health compelled him. in 1852, to make the long and tedious trip across the plains to California. That year was one when so many people were afflicted with the gold fever, and crossed the plains in all kinds of trains in search of wealth. Rev. Gordon chose the somewhat unique method of a team of milk eows, which furnished him with both transportation and sustenanee, and thus safely made the long trip of six months. After a few months, finding his health re- stored. Rev. Gordon returned home, but was in almost as bad health as when he had started, having suffered a relapse on reaching New Or- leans on the return trip, via the isthmus, and in 1855 gave up farming and moved to O'Fallon, St. Clair county, to establish himself in a mer- eantile trade, the first business of any kind at that point, now quite a eity. After about one year he again returned to the farm, but as he had rented it for a longer period the tenant would not give it up, and he was compelled to build another house on another piece of land, which he inereased in the years that followed to almost four hundred aeres. There he continued to live, rearing his family, until all had married and left the home fireside, when he and his wife moved to Campbell Hill, and after about seven years to Perey, where the remainder of his life was spent, his death occurring at the advanced age of almost eighty-two years.
A modest and unassuming man, Rev. Gordon never kept a diary and was always averse to self-praise, and in this way it is hard for the biographer to aeenrately trace his record of work accomplished. It was about the year 1837, however, when he united with the Baptist church at Georgetown, Illinois, sometimes called Steele's Mills, or Steeleville, in honor of old Uncle George Steele, founder of the town. Shortly there- after Rev. Gordon was asked by resolution to exercise his gift in the way of public speaking, and after he had complied with the request was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the usual forms of the Missionary Baptist church. Soon realizing, however, that his education was not adequate to this very important undertaking, and there being no facil- ities or advantages convenient at hand, he arranged to take his fam- ily, consisting of a wife and one child at that time, with him to Upper Alton, Illinois, and in 1841 he entered the theological department of Shurtleff College, in the meanwhile earning his board and that of his wife in various ways, principally chopping cord wood and splitting rails. When he had finished his schooling he went back to take up his work where he had left off, and during the next eight years preached all over Southern Ilinois and became very popular. The only college man in the association, and an able and efficient minister, he made himself generally useful, established numerous churches, and was eventually appointed by the association to preach throughout its limits as a missionary and to organize various churches, the parent body at New York to pay one-half of his salary, which was to be four hundred dollars per year. He had entered upon this work, meeting with fair success, and was one of the best-known members of the Nine Mile Association of the Missionary Baptist church, when an event occurred that changed the whole re- ligious complexion of Southern Illinois.
On April 28. 1850, in the prosecution of his work as missionary. he organized a church at Looney Springs (now Campbell Hill). in Jack- son county, with nine members, all of whom so far as they understood endorsed the doctrines of the Missionary Baptist church. It was an- nouneed at the next meeting the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper would be administered, which in the meantime was discussed in the neighbor- hood by the members of the new church as well as others, and there was
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quite a general feeling among the members that their Methodist and Presbyterian neighbors, of whom there were two or three in the vicinity, might commune with them. This was said by some to be contrary to the usages of the Baptist church, and it was agreed among themselves that they leave the whole matter to their new pastor when he came, for their meetings were held monthly. When the question was asked, Rev. Gordon gave his consent, although he, to use his own words, "had never publicly advocated free communion," but their claim was just and their cause scriptural, "so I yielded my acquired denominational prejudices." He had hardly got haek home from his appointment when charges were preferred against him and he was called upon to appear before his church and give an account for this departure from Baptist usages, for which offense he was excluded from his church. The trial and exclusion of the Rev. H. S. Gordon from the Baptist church at Georgetown, Randolph county, has been set forth in various places, in- cluding the report of the committee, which is included in the "Life and Labors of the Rev. Henry S. Gordon," from which book several quota- tions have been made.
The work of Rev. Gordon after his expulsion from the church in which he had labored so long and faithfully continued as follows: "February 1, 1851, at one o'clock, the congregation assembled at the house of Deacon John T. Short," officers were chosen, prayer said by II. S. Gordon, and, the meeting being properly organized, proceeded to discuss the propriety of a new church organization, the result being the organization of the Baptist Church of Christ, under a firm consti- tution. Shortly thereafter, Rev. Gordon organized a church at Pipe- stone, at what is now called Denmark; also another near Rockwood, still called Pleasant Ridge. These four he organized into an association in 1851 and named it the Southern Illinois Association of Free Communion Baptists, and under his ministry they grew very rapidly. To quote again from the work above mentioned: "Brother Gordon's ability as a preacher, his remarkable vocabulary, fine use of language, native ora- tory, great earnestness and natural adaptability to the work to which he had been so unexpectedly called admirably fitted him to become the leader of a more advanced and liberal view of Christianity" at that time. "But it was not popularity that he was seeking. Although the people came by thousands to hear him preach, and every service wit- nessed conversions, frequently by the score, and every monthly meeting baptisms," it was but the fulfilling of what he felt his bounden duty, and a labor of love and self-sacrifice. The work broadened and enlarged until it reached over several counties, and eventually, at a meeting in March, 1877, a convention was called to be held at Looney Springs church, where the new church was fused with that of the Free Will Baptists. During all this time Brother Gordon continued to lead and direct the work, and it would be difficult to say how really great his in- fluence was or how far-reaching. Those who had come under his in- fluence here transferred it to other communities, and many branches of the church today can trace their inception to him. He seldom missed a Sabbath, received next to no salary (he was content to receive a pair of woolen mittens or socks, a wagon-load of pumpkins, or, as on one occasion, a bushel of cotton seed for his labors), and "was thor- oughly disgusted with a minister who worked so hard that his church would have to give him a vacation every summer. The fact is that he had but little patience with such weaklings," although for sixty years he himself would continue to go constantly, persistently, with no let-up or rest. He was a strict vegetarian. Always accustomed to hard work on his farm, he was often heard to tell of a certain crop which he once
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raised. It came to one hundred bushels of corn, which was hauled seven- teen miles by wagon to sell, and for which he received a ten-dollar bill. The latter proved counterfeit and the donor would not take it back. "It was hard to ever forgive that fellow," was Brother Gordon's in- variable remark when finishing this story. In finishing the sketch of the work done by Brother Gordon, it may be well to quote from the writing of one who knew and loved him :
"Ile was systematic and orderly in his personal habits, was rather averse to fashionable dressing and finery ; while very unaffected and un- assuming he always graced the pulpit with dignity, and while extremely social with all with whom he came in contact, he was always dignified and genteel. Ile held moral character in very high esteem; was often heard to say that morality was a large half of Christianity. Ile es- pecially dislike untruth and deceit. He respected the opinions of those who differed with him socially, politically or religiously, but tied him- self down to no man's theories, notions or opinions, carefully investi- gated for himself all subjects and doctrines that presented themselves or eame up for solution or consideration, and in all those sixty years of *
public life was not sidetracked but kept steadily on, right on.
*
*
He was quick to discover truth, and equally quick to deteet error. In argument he was scholarly and logical, and above all intensely scriptural. He was a master of his text book, the Bible, quoting whole chapters from memory. He moved around among its promises, its parables and its miracles as familiarly as friend with friend. Nor its history, law, poetry or propheey were perplexing. Truly a man of God, and learned in the deep things of His Word." His death occurred Jannary 10, 1898, and he was laid to rest in the Jones graveyard, one mile west of Percy. His widow survived him four years and passed away at Ava. Originally a Whig, Rev. Gordon became a Republican on the organiza- tion of that party, later was a Democrat, and in 1880 began to advocate the principles of the Prohibition party.
The early life of the Rev. George Alexander Gordon was spent amid religious surroundings, and his edneation was secured in the subserip- tion schools and the public schools of Perey and Georgetown. At the age of eighteen years he began to attend Rev. O. L. Barlor's Mathemati- cal and Classical Institute, where he completed his education, and after finishing his schooling followed farming until 1872. In that year he embarked in the mercantile business at Perey, and in 1875 came to Campbell Hill, continuing in the same line about eighteen years. For some time he was editor of the Illinois Free Baptist, a religious publica- tion, later, for five years, published the Campbell Hill Eclipse, and is still the owner of a small printing establishment. Various enterprises have attracted his attention, and he is the owner of a large farm, al- though for some years he has been living in practical retirement. He is a notary, a justice of the peace, and handles real estate and insurance. and is a general advisor to all his fellow townsmen on matters of busi- ness. Rev. Gordon made profession of religion in 1860, and in 1868 was ordained by the Free Baptist church. He has preached almost continuously ever sinee, and for several years was an evangelist and preached every day. He has been state agent for the Free Baptist church for twenty-one years, seventy-five ministers and as many churches being under his care, and is the only member of the general conference board of twenty-one members that has been elected continuously to office since 1890. He was a delegate to the general conference at Wiers, New Hamp- shire, in 1880; at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, in 1889; at Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1892: at Winnebago, Minnesota, in 1895; in 1898 at Ocean Park, Maine; and all others to date. Once a year he has gone Vol. 111-27
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East to Maine in the interests of his church. Politically he was for- merly a Democrat, but with his father in 1880 transferred his allegiance to the Prohibition party. He has been identified with Free Masonry sinee 1868.
Rev. Gordon was born at Alton, Ilinois, April 14, 1842, and on De- cember 25, 1866, was married to llarriet Glore, who was born January 26, 1846, at Shiloh Hill, Illinois, daughter of Jeptha and Margaret (Crisler ) Glore. She was converted and joined the Free Baptist church at Steeleville, Illinois, January 1, 1867. She has been an active worker in the church, Sunday-school and Children's Band ever since, and has rendered her husband invaluable assistance in his ministry. While busied with the cares of a large household, she has always found time to attend to her church work, and has proved herself a faithful and true pastor's wife. Although they have had no children of their own, and have legally adopted none, Rev. and Mrs. Gordon have reared eight chil- dren to man and womanhood and given them the true love and affection of parents. Like his reverend father, Rev. Gordon has great organiz- ing ability, and has founded more than thirty churches. During his long and faithful labor here he has baptized more than fifteen hundred persons, and has married more couples than any one in this part of the state. The mantle of his father's greatness has fallen upon his shoul- ders,-shoulders that are worthy and able to carry their burden.
RUFUS E. COOK. As a man whose entire business career of nearly a quarter of a century has been spent in Mulkeytown, and whose activities have served as a stimulus to the city's commercial growth and develop- ment, Rufus E. Cook commands the respeet and esteem of his associates, and as a publie official has demonstrated his efficiency in promoting movements for the good of the community. He was born near Mulkey- town, Franklin county, June 1, 1857, and is a son of William H. and Margaret (Davis) Cook.
William H. Cook was born in Kentucky, and there received a good education, fitting himself to practice medieine. In 1848, at the start of his medieal career, he migrated to Illinois, and during the years that followed he became widely and favorably known, traveling on horseback all over Franklin and the adjoining counties. As a pioneer of his pro- fession in this section, and a man of worth in every way, Dr. Cook won and held the friendship of a wide circle of friends, and at his death, in 1872, he was sincerely mourned. Politically he was an ardent Republi- can, but he was active rather as a director of his party's activities than as an office holder. Dr. Cook was married to Miss Margaret Davis, who was born in Tennessee, daughter of Chissim Davis, who brought his family to Illinois in 1850 and became a leading agriculturist in Franklin county, where his death occurred in 1860. Mrs. Cook was a consistent member of the Christian church, and she and her husband had a family of three children, Rufus E .. W. D. and R. T. Cook.
Rufus E. Cook was educated in the common schools, and when his father died, in 1872, he was compelled to start to make his own way in the world. Securing employment as a elerk in a general store, he worked at various places and with a number of different employers, in the mean- time gaining a thorough knowledge of the business which he had decided upon as his life work. Carefully hoarding his wages, in 1888 he with his brother, R. T. Cook, was able by borrowing $300, to engage in business on their own account, and started with a stock worth $1.200. He met with the usual difficulties and discouragements that beset the young mer- chant trying to establish himself in business, and at times it seemed that his venture would prove a disastrous one, but his persistent and untiring
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efforts, his strong determination to succeed, and the experience gained through long years of clerking, finally enabled him to pass the stage of uncertainty and, gaining confidence, he began to branch out and enlarge his enterprise as rapidly as he possibly could. The progressive ideas which he introduced into the business, the strict integrity which charac- terized every transaction, and the confidence felt by the buying public that every article handled by him was exactly what it was represented to be, soon gave Mr. Cook a prestige among the merchants here, and the business flourished to such an extent that he now does the largest busi- ness in Mulkeytown, has trade extending all over the county. and carries a stock valued at $26,000. He was also interested in a general store busi- ness at Christopher, in partnership with D. W. Davis, until October 1, 1911, at which time he disposed of his interests there. He is now a stock- holder in the First National Bank of Benton and a large land owner, conducting a productive farm in Franklin county.
In 1893 Mr. Cook was married to Miss Orben Means, daughter of Thomas K. Means, now a farmer near Mulkeytown, who is past eighty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have a family of six children : Frank. who is working for his father in the store ; Ray. Neal, Ruby and Charley. who are attending school in Mulkeytown ; and Kenneth, the baby. The family belong to the Christian ehnreh. Mr. Cook's business enterprises have kept him extremely busy, but he has found time to serve his com- munity in publie office. In 1894 he was the Republican candidate for sheriff of Franklin county, was elected by a comfortable majority and served until 1898, and he has also aeted as postmaster of Mulkeytown for two terms. It would be hard indeed to find a citizen whose activities have been of more benefit to his community, or one who could name a greater number of warm, personal friends.
KNOX GEE. A young man of good business judgment and ability, Knox Gee, of Waltonville, occupies a responsible position as cashier of the Waltonville Bank, a private institution which was organized and is man- aged by I. G. Gee & Company, bankers. He was born Angust 18, 1882. at Fitzgerrell, Jefferson county, Illinois, a son of Dr. I. G. and Elzina .I. (Fitzgerrell) Gee. The father was at that time one of the leading physi- cians and stoek growers of Southern Illinois, but has since retired from the practice of medicine, devoting his entire time to his large farming interests near Mount Vernon.
Growing to manhood in Illinois. Knox Gee gleaned his early education in the common schools, and in 1902 was graduated from the Mount Ver- non High School. Subsequently entering the Gem City Business College at Quiney, Ilinois, he completed a course in stenography and bookkeep- ing in 1904, and for a few months thereafter was bookkeeper for the F'nl- lerton-Powell Hardwood Lumber Company in Mount Vernon. In July, 1905, Mr. Gee accepted his present position as eashier of the Waltonville Bank, and has since performed the duties devolving upon him in this capacity with characteristic ability and fidelity.
The Waltonville Bank was organized in July, 1905, by Dr. I. G. Gee. I. b. Emerson and other business men of Mount Vernon, and the leading agrienlturists and business men of Waltonville, it being a private institu- tion with an individual responsibility of more than $500.000. It has a capital of $15,000, with deposits of more than $80,000. and has the fol- lowing named men as officers: President, Dr. T. G. Gee ; vice-president. Dr. O. P. Norris : cashier. Knox Gee; and assistant cashier, J. B. Martin.
Mr. Gee married. Jannary 1, 1911, Sona Mannen. a daughter of S. S. and Eliza S. (Stewart) Mannen, her father being one of the extensive farmers and stock growers of Jefferson county, his valuable farming
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estate lying near Waltonville. Fraternally Mr. Gee is a member of Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 31, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, and religiously he belongs to the Bap- tist churel.
CHARLES EDWARD MAYNARD. A man of broad ideas and wide vision, Charles Edward Maynard, former editor, part owner and business man- ager of the Greenville Sun, is one of the most intelligent newspaper men of Southern Illinois. He was born in Greenville, Illinois, May 10, 1884, a son of Alfred Maynard, and is of good old New England stock.
Born in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, Franklin county, Alfred Maynard was there brought up and educated. At the age of twenty years he made his way westward to Greenville, and soon found employ- ment in the general store of W. S. Dann. A few years later, on the death of Mr. Dann, the business was reorganized as the F. P. Joy Company, and he has sinee been an active member of the firm, at the present time having charge of the shoe department. Mr. Maynard is a man of much force of character and is prominent in church and Sunday-school work. Ile was formerly a member of the Congregational church, and when that church united with the Presbyterian church under the name of the latter, he became a leading member of the Presbyterian church. In 1882 he married Mary Elizabeth Butler, a daughter of Elijah and Naney Butler, the latter of whom died in March, 1911. Mr. Butler was a photographer in Effingham, Illinois, until 1904, when he retired from active business pursuits. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred May- nard, as follows: Hattie N., who owned a half interest in the Greenville Sun; Charles Edward, of whom this brief sketch is chiefly written; . J. Louise ; Grace E. ; and Ina A. In his political affiliations the father is a strong Prohibitionist, and fraternally he belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America.
Educated in Greenville, Charles E. Maynard was graduated from the high school with the class of 1902, and subsequently continued his studies for a year at Greenville College. In February, 1905, having a genuine taste for journalism, he became connected with the Sun as a reporter, and he found newspaper work so congenial that in November, 1905, with Mr. F. H. Floyd, he purchased the paper from its owner, Mr. W. C. Wright. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Floyd sold his interest in the paper to Miss Hattie N. Maynard, a sister of Mr. Maynard, and the two have been eondueting it most successfully. The Sun, a Democratie organ, with a deeided in- elination towards independence in thought and expressed opinions, has been a semi-weekly since 1905, and under the vigorous direction of Mr. Maynard came rapidly to the front, becoming one of the leading and pro- gressive journals of Southern Illinois, noted for its fearlessness in at- tacking machine polities, and in its agitation of pure and clean municipal elections, as well as its progressive attitude in regard to city affairs. The plant was thoroughly equipped for job and advertising work, being modern in its improvements. Six men were employed in the printing de- partment, four in the office, and in addition a large corps of county eor- respondents and city carriers were found on its pay roll. The paper had a wide cireulation in the county, and was in every way in a flourishing and thriving condition when Mr. Maynard disposed of the plant early in 1912. Mr. Maynard is a Demoerat and a member of the Maecabees.
On August 30, 1911, Mr. Maynard was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Pearl Jones, of Robinson, Illinois, a young lady of talent and eul- ture, who for a year prior to her marriage was a student in the music department of Greenville College.
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HUGH VINCENT MURRAY. A well known lawyer of Clinton county, now serving as state's attorney, Hugh Vincent Murray, of Carlyle, is the possessor of good mental abilities, well trained, and through close application and persistent attention to his business has gained a high standing in his profession. He was born September 2, 1870, in Carlyle, Illinois, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Matthew P. Murray.
The paternal grandfather of Ilugh Vineent Murray, Peter Murray, was born June 27, 1812, and bred in Ireland. In early manhood he came to America, the promised land for many immigrants, and for a while after arriving here lived in the east. Subsequently, following the path- way of civilization westward, he located in Illinois, and for a time was the owner of a tract of land that is now inelnded within the very heart of the city of Chicago. The land being seemingly of little value, he traded it for a steamboat and a poor farm a short distance north of Carlyle. He finally settled permanently in Clinton county, Illinois, and was here a resident until his death, which occurred November 3, 1873, when he was sixty-one years of age. He was twice married and his second wife is still living. Of the seven children of his first marriage, Matthew P. Murray was the fifth ehild in order of birth. By his second marriage Peter Mur- ray was the father of nine children.
Matthew P. Murray's birth occurred January 31, 1847, in Carlyle, Hli- nois, and his early days were spent on the farm. Receiving a limited edu- eation in the miral schools, he subsequently continued his studies as opportunity occurred, thus through his own efforts acquiring a substan- tial foundation for his future professional knowledge. When he was a youth of eighteen years he left home, and during the summer seasons worked as a farm laborer, while in the winters he taught school. In the meantime he read law under G. Van Hoorebeeke, and in 1871 was admitted to the bar. Immediately beginning the practice of his profes- sion in Carlyle, he tutored Robert Andrews, a Carlyle school teacher, who had been admitted to the Indiana bar and desired to prepare him- selt for admission to the Ilinois bar. When Mr. Andrews was finally ad- mitted to the Illinois bar, Mr. Matthew P. Murray formed a partnership with him which lasted until 1880, when Mr. Murray was elected state's attorney for Clinton county, the partnership, however, continuing until 1885, when Mr. Andrews was appointed land attorney in the Washing- ton land office. For sixteen years Mr. Murray served as state's attorney. and in 1896 was appointed master in chancery, a position which he filled several years. In 1902 he went to St. Louis, where he became general counsel of the Missouri Trust Company, later the Missouri-Lincoln Trust. Company, and in that city he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of law. While living in Carlyle he had the reputation of being one of the best lawyers in Southern Illinois, and he now ranks high in his profession in St. Louis. He is a sound Demoerat in polities, and a mem- ber of the Catholic church.
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