USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 108
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The older residents well remember William Hadley as an carnest, God-fearing gentleman who was in every way typical of the "old school" when courtly deference of manner, strict integrity and upright living were the accepted qualities. William Hadley was born in Adair county, Kentucky, in 1806, and at the age of eleven years came with his parents to this county, locating, as has been stated, about three miles north of Collinsville. His father, John Hadley, a veteran of the War of 1812, was a man of limited means and could not give to his children extensive edu- cational advantages, especially as at that time there were scarcely any schools in the neigh- borhood. When he was thirteen years old William received three weeks' schooling, and two years later had an opportunity to go to the district school for less than one month. This comprised his education so far as ex- ternal effort was concerned. He became a cultured, learned man, but the rest of his acquirements were self-secured, in which re- spect he was similar to Abraham Lincoln and other statesmen and scholars of the pioneer days. He spent his early life on the home farm and those of the neighbors, receiving as his wage for outside work the munificent sum of thirty-seven and one-half cents a day. One year after attaining his majority he learned the carpenters' trade and followed this for about five years. During that period he erected frame buildings, which remained as landmarks in the county for many years.
In the spring of 1831 he began farming, and continued as a tiller of the soil until 1863, having at that time 175 acres of the finest land in the county, all of which was under an admirable state of cultivation. In 1830 he married Diadema McKinney, who was born in 1809. She was a daughter of John
Mckinney, a soldier of the Revolution who was a native of South Carolina. She died in 1863, after which William Hadley left the home farm and turned his attention to fruit raising, he having two fruit farms in Jackson county. He returned to Collinsville in i883.
He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and for many years filled the pulpit as a local preacher. He was a great Bible student and an eloquent and convinc- ing expounder of the Word. In politics he was an ardent and active Republican, and his last act was to vote at the presidential elec- tion. He died November 4, 1896. His home was directly across the street from the polling place, and knowing how greatly he had de- sired to cast his ballot the election judges made a most unusual departure, in which, however, they were applauded by the entire community. Late in the afternoon two of the judges took an official ballot across the street to Mr. Hadley's home, received his vote and conveyed it back to the ballot box. This
kindly act was fully appreciated by the vener- able gentleman, who, a few hours later, passed peacefully to the reward that is prom- ised to those who labor faithfully and long.
His wife's people were sturdy patriots, who assisted in establishing American independ- ence. Diadema Mckinney Hadley's parents were John and Katharine Eaves Mckinney. The former was a private in Morgan's Rifles and later served as corporal and scout in the Continental troops. He was in Captain Hawkins' company of Morgan's regiment, and was appointed a corporal in December, 1777. He was also in Major James Parr's company of the same regiment in 1779. being transferred in March of that year to Captain Michael Mason's company. For his services as a spy, which resulted in the capture of a number of British officers and soldiers, he was presented with a pair of silver spurs by General Francis Marion. He was only six- teen years old at that time. One of these spurs is still in. the possession of his descend- ants.
Reared on a farm three miles northwest of Collinsville, Wilbur C. Hadley attended the log school house sessions, which were for- merly maintained as a subscription school. Here he received his early education. He then went to Collinsville to school and later entered McKendree College at Lebanon, at- tending there for a portion of two years. Following this he took a complete business course at the Jones Commercial College in
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St. Louis, and the completion of the latter course of study found him ready to launch out into the world on an active career. He was in succession a teacher, a hotel-keeper and a farmer. After these experiences he opened a general store in Collinsville, which he conducted successfully for fifteen years, part of the time in partnership with Charles Pabst.
In 1891 the State Bank of Collinsville was organized and Mr. Hadley was elected presi- dent of the institution, a signal honor for one who had no previous connection whatever with a bank or the banking business. How- ever, his business ability had been so apparent that the leading men of Collinsville who com- posed the directorate of the institution felt that they were making no mistake in placing him at the head of the bank. He was mark- edly successful and retains that position to the present day. Under his wise direction the affairs of the bank are so administered as to show progressiveness but at the same time with that conservative tone that is the preservation and safeguard of any financial institution.
In 1866 Mr. Hadley married Miss Mary S. Smith, who was born in 1847 in that por- tion of the American Bottom which is now Granite City. She was a daughter of Sydney and Sina (Davidson) Smith, and was edu- cated in the public schools and in historic Monticello Seminary at Godfrey. She is a most refined and cultured lady with gracious and cordial address. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley becarne the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Alice, now the wife of R. S. Louden ; Bertha M., widow of Alonzo Coombs, de- ceased; Josephine, wife of J. A. Yates ; Hon- orable W. Edward Hadley, judge of the cir- cuit court for this judicial circuit of Illinois ; Mary, who married Edward A. Langan and is now deceased, and Mattie Strong, who died in infancy. Mrs. Hadley .attends the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he is a member.
Few men attain to more fraternal promi- nence in the various orders than has W. C. Hadley in the Masonic fraternity. He is a member, of Collinsville Lodge, No. 712, A. F. and A. M .; Unity Chapter, No. . 182, Royal Arch Masons; Belleville Council, Royal and Select Masters; Tancred Commandery, No. 50, Knights Templar, located at Belleville ; Oriental Consistory, A. A. Scottish Rite, Chicago, being a life member of this body, an honor that was conferred upon him some
years ago; and Moolah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of St. Louis. He is now serving his tenth year as master of his Blue Lodge and his twenty-second year as high priest of his chapter
But it is not alone that W. C. Hadley makes an admirable presiding officer and confers the degrees with dignity and ritualistic ac- curacy, as the presiding officer of his lodge he has been the actual leader in all that tends toward advancement. Several years ago he brought the movement for a temple to a head, and supplied the funds that were lacking to- ward securing a site. Then in 1911 when the federal government sought a site for the structure to house the postoffice Mr. Hadley was the main one in bringing about the sale of half the Masonic lodge's ground at a handsome profit, thus netting a sum which enabled the commencing of work in 1912 upon the proposed Masonic Temple. The de- signs for the latter show that it will be a beautiful and enduring monument to the order, to the local lodge and to the individual who became its inspiration. . Mr. Hadley is also a member of the Society of Sons of the American Revolution.
He, like his father before him, is an ardent Republican, and is a member of the state central committee for the Twenty-second con- gressional district of Illinois, on which com- mittee he has rendered valuable service to the party. He served one term on the Madison county board of supervisors as representative of Collinsville township, and he was county treasurer in 1889. Personally he is an ex- ample of the gentleman of culture, pleasant in manner and an agreeable conversationalist. A man of enthusiasm and energy, he puts his whole soul in any work he undertakes, the re- sults of which may be seen in the splendid work he has accomplished. Representing a high moral character as well as a pleasing personality, he has won to himself the respect and affection of a large circle of friends.
Prominent in the Hadley family was Hon. WV .. F. L. Hadley, of Edwardsville, a brother of W. C. Hadley, who accomplished no little service for his constituents. He was also a bank president, heading the Bank of Ed- wardsville. He was the attorney of note and served in the state senate of Illinois and rep- resented the old Eighteenth congressional dis- trict of Illinois one term in Congress. He is now deceased.
WILLIAM MATHEW PITZER SMITH, city at- torney of Edwardsville, presents in his pro-
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fessional career an example of the rapidity with which the youth of today in America may advance when he has chosen one of the distinguished professions and has bent his en- ergies ceaselessly toward attaining pro- ficiency in that line. The law, according to an old saying, is a "hard taskmaster." And yet, when barely of age William M. P. Smith was pronounced by the highest legal lights of two great commonwealths a fully versed and properly accredited attorney. At an age when young men are frequently casting about listlessly, as yet undetermined upon what channel of activity to follow, he had already laid the foundation for a career and was actively in the arena, waging the battle of life and fully panoplied with the learning that the present day demands of those who would go far. .
Mr. Smith was born December 2, 1887, at St. Louis, Mo. His father, William Martin Smith, followed the occupation of "shoe critic" after being forced by ill-health to abandon the study of chemistry and of law, which he had undertaken in the east. Before embarking in business he was a member of "Campbell's Light Guard" in the Ohio In- fantry. He became prominent in retail and wholesale shoe circles in the middle west, and died on New Year's Day, 1899. His wife, Rosa Veronica H. (Hauser) Smith, an ac- complished woman in many ways, is now making her home in the city of Edwardsville. In early life she was active in St. Louis mu- sic circles, being a member of the "Lieder- kranz," St. Louis Singing Academy, and the "Arion" and "Orpheus" singing societies. For years she has been an ardent devotee of the science of phonography and her efforts have gained recognition from the masters of the science.
William M. P. Smith is the descendant of a line of scholars and soldiers, most of whom were extensively engaged in military service and handed down enviable records. In the fall of 1895 he entered the public school in St. Louis. In 1898, after one year's lapse, due to illness, he matriculated at St. Leo's parochial school and attended for one year, at the end of which period he removed to Edwardsville with his mother, that city being their home ever since. This departure closely followed his father's death. William com- pleted his grammar school education in Ed- wardsville, and at the age of fourteen entered the high school in 1902. He graduated in 1906. During this time he learned short-
hand and on May 1, 1907, was regularly en- rolled as an instructor in phonography, being then the youngest of the profession, as he was but nineteen years of age.
October, 1907, found him well on his way toward realizing his cherished ambition, that being the date on which he entered the law department of Washington University, St. Louis. He was a fully accredited student, having spent one year in the office of Circuit Judge B. R. Burroughs, where he studied and acted as public stenographer, also reporting cases in the county court of Madison county. He graduated from the university on June 17, 1909, with honor, and received the degree of LL. B. On October 6, 1909, he was ad- mitted to practice law in Illinois, being then the youngest barrister in his home county. He was elected city attorney of Edwardsville on April 18, 1911, and assumed the duties of that office on the first of the following month. Up to the time of his election to office he was official court reporter of the city court of Alton, Illinois.
A close student since earliest youth, Mr. Smith still keeps up his extensive reading. The law is to him a pleasure and never a drudge and he has always been thankful that the late W. M. Warnock urged him to adopt it as a profession and secured him a place in the office of Judge Burroughs for his prelim- inary studies. His early tutelage under C. E. Gueltig, corporation counsel of Edwardsville, was also a source of much satisfaction to him. Since his admission to the bar he has prac- ticed unassociated, and his phonographic activities has since that time been merely an adjunct to his practice.
His forensic abilities have been tested on numerous occasions in the duties of toastmas- ter at banquets or speaker at public gather- ings, and have ever won compliment for him. His personal address is most pleasing, his manners irreproachable and his attainments extensive. In politics he is a Republican, and his religious faith is Roman Catholic. He is a member of the Madison County Bar Association, the Alumni Association of the Washington University Law School and the Edwardsville high school, being past presi- dent of the latter, and member of the Ed- wardsville Commercial Club.
C. W. SMITH. "Like father, like son" proves true so often that it has come to be a trite saying. Frequently this is by personal selection, the son following in the footsteps of his sire in some particular calling, there
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being many reasons why this is both desirable and natural. Less often is the son seen emu- lating the father in the latter's public record. C. W. Smith, of Mitchell, Madison county, Illinois, and his father, Nathan Robison Smith, of Staunton, Macoupin county, have in many respects presented a parallel in their activities.
Each has followed farming with success, but with the achievement of success has not cared to seek a home in some city and sink into idleness, but preferred rather to continue active in the pure air of the country. Each also has served his particular county in the same way-as a member of the county board of supervisors. The senior Mr. Smith was one of the first members of the board that paid the debt on the famous "million dollar" court house at Carlinville, on whose construc- tion earlier officers had expended money so wildly that the county seemed hopelessly plunged in a financial mire. After conditions had settled Mr. Smith and others began care- fully to plan to retrieve the fortunes of Ma- coupin, a difficult task but one which was eventually crowned with success.
In similar wise the son, Charles Wesley Smith, in the county of Madison, was called by his constituents to a place in the county board of supervisors of Madison county. First elected in 1904, he has been returned to the board from Chouteau township at every election since and is the present representa- tive. He was chairman of the board three successive terms -- in 1907, 1908, 1910-and in 1909 was also a member of the board. During these years, by reason of the many important events that were transpiring and grave mat- ters that were continually coming up for con- sideration, he had much to do. His parlia- mentary rulings were given the approbation of the board and he was a popular and ef- ficient executive.
Charles Wesley Smith was born September 18, 1859, at Staunton, in Macoupin county. His father, Nathan Robison Smith, was born in Greene county on December 5, 1838. He represented Dorchester township for over twenty years as its supervisor. He now lives near Staunton, blessed with good health and activity even if his life is crowned with more years than the Biblical "three score and ten." Mr. Smith is a staunch Democrat and in addi- tion to the place named has filled the positions of commissioner of highways and school direc- tor. His people were originally from Caro- lina, and the relatives of his wife, Serelda
Walker, a native of Macoupin county, came from West Virginia. By his first marriage Mr. Smith had six children-Charles W., of Mitchell; Rebecca, William, Thomas H., James O. and Carey L. Of these only two, Charles W. and Thomas H. are living. The second marriage of Mr. Smith was to Han- nah Cornelius, who is now also deceased. Their three children are living-Nathan C., Verna Ray and Cornelius. The third wife of Mr. Smith was before her marriage Julia Perrine.
Charles W. Smith, the subject of this sketch, attended school in Dorchester town- ship during his boyhood, and assisted his father about the farm. When at twenty-one he attained his majority he rented a farm for one year, at the expiration of which time he bought forty acres, which he soon thereafter exchanged for an eighty-acre tract and pro- ceeded to occupy the latter.
Coming to Madison county in 1893, he lo- cated at Mitchell in Chouteau township. Three years later he was made assessor of the township and held the place for eight years.
A thorough inspection convinced him of the fertility of the ground in Chouteau and he bought a farm and built a fine homestead in 1906. This farm, together with the modern improvements upon it is considered one of the best country places in the county.
His services on the board of supervisors and his experience as assessor caused his knowledge of tax matters to be in demand and in 1909 he was appointed to the board of tax review. He filled this important post for four years, being chairman of the board three terms. He is a Democrat in politics and, it goes without saying, is one of the most prom- inent members of that party in his vicinity.
Much of his time at present Mr. Smith de- votes to dealing in live stock. He has on one corner of his premises at Mitchell, where it is convenient to shipping on the railroads, a very large and well-equipped series of barns and outbuildings. His operations cover sev- eral states and he buys and sells horses and mules in car load lots, singly or in team or any desired number in between. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, having a record of over twenty years in that order. The Smith family are affiliated with the Methodist church. Mr. Smith is of a genial nature. quick to make friends and of the cor- dial disposition that retains them. He is generous and open-hearted and, stands high throughout the American Bottom.
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On August 25, 1880, Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Lyda Hutchinson, the ceremony taking place at the home of the bride in Ma- coupin county. She was a daughter of James W. Hutchinson and Elizabeth F. (Walker) Hutchinson. Her father was a Methodist preacher and came from Kentucky. Ma- coupin county was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith for some time after their marriage. Four children were born to them-Charles E., who is located in Oklahoma and follows the stock business; Donna P., who married William Dean and is living in Terre Haute ; Margaret B., who married Roscoe Brown, of Terre Haute, and Sue, who is at home with her parents.
THOMAS J. CARROLL. A busy and useful career was terminated on July 15, 1912, at Edwardsville, when the inevitable end of man overtook Thomas Jefferson Carroll and he was called to eternal rest. General regret was felt in the community, for Mr. Carroll was one of those men who may truly be called a good citizen. All of his efforts were in the way of upbuilding, adding to and bettering, and when the dark angel cast a shadow across the happy home it was a consolation to the family to realize that the world was better for having known his presence. Hle was a man of many friendships, firm in his opin- ions and staunch in his beliefs. He believed in working hard and put his belief to practice, as a result of which he left a splendid herit- age to his descendants, in addition to handing down to them an honored name.
The Carroll family came originally from the famous relationship of that name in old Ireland. From county Louth, Dunleer, Ire- land, in the year 1836, came Patrick Carroll and his wife, Mary Gilmore Carroll. They came to Edwardsville from New Orleans by way of St. Louis, and intended to try the for- tunes of the new country. They left a two- year-old son, Philip, with his grandparents in the old home. Their first experiences of a business nature in the new country were unfortunate. Patrick Carroll's first work in the state was that of assisting in making the first railroad that ever went through Madi- son county. It is to be hoped that later he and his children profited in some way by the girding of the county with a path of steel. for his immediate returns were to be cheated out of his pay by the contractor, a lot which he shared with a number of fellow workmen.
Disappointed but not discouraged, Mr. Car-
roll went back to St. Louis without his pay and started a boarding house. He conducted this successfully for a few years and in 1840 came to Pin Oak township and purchased a forty-acre farm on which he built a log cabin. Later he came to Marine and worked on a nearby farm. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Carroll were the parents of seven children. Thomas died in infancy in Ireland. Philip, the next brother, who was left in Ireland in 1836 when two years old, was educated in the old coun- try, first studying medicine and later pre- paring to enter the priesthood. He came to America to complete his preparation, but was never ordained, being called to the other life just one week before he was to take his holy orders. The other children, John, James, Thomas Jefferson, Christopher and Mary, grew to maturity and became useful resi- clents of the community. All of them were given such advantages as the parents could afford in the way of education, mostly in the district schools of Madison county.
Thomas Jefferson Carroll was born in 1846, on June 25. Until his marriage in 1875. he remained at home and helped his father on the farm. At that time he was married to Carolina W. Dzengolewski, who was born in Prussia in 1851. Her parents were Ferdi- nand and Petranella (Kuller) Dzengolewski, with whom she came to America when she was five years old. Her father was a farmer. living first in St. Clair county and later in Alhambra township of Madison county. His children are: Augusta, Edward, Amelia, Anna, Frederick, Rosalina, Carolina, Charles and Minnie all of whom are still living, the youngest being fifty-five years old.
For a time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Carroll lived in Marine township, on the old Carroll homestead. Later they came to Alhambra township, where Mr. Carroll had inherited one hundred and fifteen acres of land from his father's estate. By industry and thrift and with the constant help and co- operation of his wife, Mr. Carroll improved and increased his inheritance until at the time of his death the beautiful farm "Elmdale" comprised three hundred and fifty-one acres of well-cultivated fields. The country residence on this estate is one of the handsomest in the county. The owner gave much thought to making the place a home as well as a place of abode, and during the thirty-two years that the family occupied it those distinctive touches that denote appreciation of the best
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were bestowed upon it. Shade and orna- mental trees and shrubbery were put out, together with a large quantity of fruit trees. Five children added to the responsibilities of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll, and at the same time gave them the inspiration which is one of the rewards of parenthood. Their bright and energetic family consists of two daugh- ters and three sons: Edwin, Maud, Gertrude, Thomas P. F. and Leo. The children received their education in the Siebert district school, and also in the parochial school at Marine.
Thomas is now employed as a traveling salesman. Edwin married Miss Nona Grainey and is engaged in farming near his father's place. His family includes Edwin T., a rep- resentative of the fourth generation of the Madison county Carrolls. Maud Carroll prepared herself to be a teacher and followed that vocation until her marriage to Clay Co- wan, shipping clerk in East St. Louis. They have two children, Dolores and Roland. Ger- trude Carroll married George Pierson, of Edwardsville, who is employed in the gen- eral office of the N. O. Nelson Manfacturing Company. She and her husband have one daughter, Virginia. Leo C. is at home, where he successfully superintends his late father's farm, "Elmdale." It was a great happiness to Mr. and Mrs. Carroll to witness the results of the careful training in the principles of rec- titude and in the faith of the church, by which they guided their children to maturity, in the useful and valuable lives which these children consistently lead. Both Mr. and Mrs. Car- roll held membership in St. Elizabeth's Cath- olic church at Marine, and they brought up their children in "the faith once delivered to the saints."
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