USA > Illinois > Williamson County > Historical souvenir of Williamson County, Illinois : being a brief review of the county from date of founding to the present > Part 17
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Like the most of our ambitious and capable men he has had a hand in politics, and although a Demo- crat in a Republican County, has been elected City Clerk for four suc- cessive terms, viz: in 1897, 1899, 1901 and again in 1903. A glance at his portrait will settle the ques-
tion of his marriage, which took place on November 23, 1897, to Miss Ada Barham, the daughter of Jos. Barham, of Marion. One child, Vir- ginia, marks the fruit of their union. He is a director of the Marion Build- ing and Loan Association; in busi- ness the resident agent for the Ru- dolph Strecher Brewing Association, and in Fraternal matters a member of the Elks and of the K. P's.
JOHN W. PEEBLES, Attorney at Law.
The subject of this sketch is a na- tive of Williamson County, born and reared on a farm about five miles southeast of Marion. He got his first introduction to this mundane sphere December 9, 1849. His father was Oliver P. Peebles, who served in the SIst Ill. Vol. Inf .. Co. H, but died of disease at Memphis, Tenn. in February, 1863. He was a native of Kentucky. His wife was a Tennesseean, one of a family of 24 children by one father but two mothers, having 12 children each. She died in Marion in September, 1890, having had seven children, of whom Judge Peebles was the 2nd. When about 18 years old he began to teach school. after graduating from the High School at Liberty, Ill., in 1868, and taught continuous- ly in Williamson County for nine terms.
He then went into the drug busi- ness with his brother, Robert F. Peebles, who is still doping out the "pizens" at the old stand in Crah . Orchard. After eight years' experi- ence in the drug business he con- cluded to enter the ranks of the le- gal profession, and took a course in the Law Department of the State University at Columbia, Missouri, from which he graduated in April, 1877. He returned at once to Ma- rion and entered upon the practice of his profession. which he has fol- lowed with unvarying success till the present time. In 1880 he re- ceived the appointment by President James A. Garfield of Supervisor of the tenth Census for the 8th district of Illinois, comprising 28 counties in the southern part of the state. His confirmation was secured in the face of great competition, and he justified the selection by closing his labor far in advance of his associates in other districts of the State.
In 1880 he was Republican candi- date for States Attorney, but was de- feated by his Democratic opponent by 100 votes. In 1882 he was de- feated by Judge Washburn for Coun- ty Judge by 17 votes. In 1892 he ran again for States Attorney and was successful, and served his full term of four years.
During the war with Spain he made up Co. A, in Jos. P. Roberts' regiment, the 11th, and was elected
its captain, but the war closed so suddenly that his regiment was never called out.
His marriage took place Septem- ber 17th, 1871, to Miss Olive Jen- kins, a native of Virginia, who came with her parents to Marion in 1862. She gave birth to five children and died December 1, 1904. Four of her children are living. They are: Anna, wife of Zolla Dodd, the American Ex- press agent in Marion; Fred, who is running a rural route out of Marion in the Free Delivery Service: Frank, who is a Cager at No. 2 Coal mine, and Kate, the wife of Moody R. Tid- well, the cashier of the First Na- tional Bank at Miama, Indian Terri- tory. Mr. Peebles has six grandchil- dren.
Mr. Peebles has always been ac- tive in the ranks of Odd Fellowship. He first united with the order here, but in 1873 was transferred by card to Crab Orchard Lodge, No. 475, of which he was a charter member and with which he still affiliates. He held every elective office in its gift and was chosen to represent the Grand Lodge at its gathering at Peoria in 1875, and again at the meeting at Jacksonville, in 1876. He is a member of the M. E. church.
GEORGE W. PILLOW, Attorney at Law.
George W. Pillow began life at Metropolis, Massac Co., Ill., May 15, 1850. He was the son of Capt. Parker B. Pillow, of Columbia, Tenn., who died about March, 1883, at Shawneetown, to which place he moved in 1852. The mother was a native of this state and is still living at Shawneetown. As soon as he was old enough Mr. Pillow was appren- ticed to Karcher and Scandland, car- penters and undertakers, where he served for three years. But having ambition, he took up the study of the law and prosecuted it while working at the bench and at night. He was persistent and diligent under the most adverse circumstances, and was admitted to the bar August, 1882. He had chosen his life's partner eleven years before, and with the care of a wife and an in- creasing family on his hands, con- tinued steadfast in the pursuit of his ideal, until he won.
His first wife's name was Miss M. E. Slater, to whom he was united at Metropolis, December 15, 1871. Sev- en children came of this union, six of whom survive. Their names are Eugene R., Gordon, Eva, C. J., Wi- nona and Earl. He had the misfor- tune to lose his wife in the Spring of 1892, and two years later, Septem- ber 16, 1894, was married to Miss Mary A. Belt.
Mr. Pillow was always a Repuhli- can in politics and active and influen-
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SOUVENIR OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tial in his field. He was Republican candidate for Congress in 1890 in the old district, formerly represent- ed by Richard Townsend. He was defeated by J. R. Williams, the Dem- ocratic candidate by 3,100 majority, in a district with a normal majority of 6,000, running away ahead of his ticket on his own personal popular- ity. He continued the practice of law in Gallatin and the adjoining counties until January, 1901, when he moved to Marion. In 1904 he bought a house on West Main street and moved into it. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the M. E. Church.
THOMAS A. SINKS, Court Reporter.
The record of Mr. Sinks discloses a life almost ideal in its peaceful uniformity and romantic sameness. He has passed through few exciting or eventful days, but choosing a pro- fession in early life he has cheer- fully and persistantly followed it with satisfactory results up to the present hour. The versatility of Americans leads them from early life to try many avocations, now this, now that, and it is often late in life that they find their level and settle down to some one pursuit. And often even then the round peg gets into the square hole and the square peg into the round hole. But Mr. Sinks very early made the proper selection and shows by a successful career that the right man got into the right place. He was born Aug- ust 27, 1859, in Spring Garden, Jef-
ferson County, Illinois. He was reared on his father's farm, edu- cated in the public school and for eight years taught in Franklin and Williamson counties. Constant ex- perience shows that teaching is the very best possible training for a business life in any department, and Mr. Sinks taught just long enough to thoroughly prepare him for the career of court reporter which he has so long and so successfully fol- lowed. After closing his last school, he took a course of training in the Shorthand and Typewriting Depart- ment of the Barnes Business College of St. Louis. After his graduation he was appointed to his present po- sition first by Judge Joseph P. Rob- arts, who died in 1903. His second appointment was by Judge Harrah and then again by Judge W. W. Dun- can, making twelve years of contin- uous service.
He was married June 20, 1897, to Sarah M. Sadler, daughter of Wil- liam C. Sadler, of Frankfort, Illi- nois. On July 23, 1902, his wife died, leaving him one son who had been named after Judge Roberts. His second marriage took place June 7, 1904, to Miss Etta Henson, of Frankfort, Ill. He is a K. of P.,
Monitor Lodge, 136, and a member of A. C. Marsh Lodge, No. 496, at Frankfort, Illinois, I. O. O. F.
HON. RUFUS NEELEY, County Judge.
Rufus Neeley was born April 25, 1864, in this county, and has always made it his home. He went to the public school in the winters and worked on a farm in the summers for ten years. He is a son of John S. Neeley, who was a Virginian by birth, but who drifted to the west, and served for three years in the regular army. He was all through the Black Hawk War and drew a pension for his services as long as he lived. He settled on a farm in Wil- liamson county in 1860, where he died. On account of his poverty, Rufus Neeley was compelled to pur- sue his law studies at home. This he did to so good advantage that in October, 1900, he was admitted to the bar. He served as deputy clerk of the Circuit court under W. B. Pulley for two years, and was then elected to his present office. He was married March 20, 1889, to Miss Emma A. Harris, daughter of Dr. James A. Harris, a physician of Sa- line county, by whom he has had three boys and one girl. He is a member of Fellowship Lodge No. 89, A. L. and A. M.
H. S. HARRIS, Sheriff of Williamson County.
Sheriff Harris is a native of Cheat- ham County, Tennessee, where he was born August 3rd, 1847. He moved to Williamson County in 1854, with his parents and setiled near Herrin, where he lived nearly 33 years. His education was of the sort obtainable at the public schools, and he pursued his studies mostly at old Spillertown.
On October 25, 1868, when but 21 years old, he married Miss Sarilla Hays, the daughter of Henry Hays, of old Franklin. Of this union three children were born, two sons and one daughter. The youngest son, Charles, died at the age of 22, and John still lives on the old home- stead. Delia became the wife of James Parks, and they reside in Oklahoma.
Mr. Harris was elected County Treasurer in 1898, and after serv- ing four years, was elected Sheriff in 1902. This is his first term as Sher- iff, but he has clearly proven that a man can be taken from the plow and fill an important publlc office with efficiency and credit. During his administration to date he has put 150 men under arrest and in jail, with not an escape or jail delivery to record. He has hung two mur- derers, Jerry Graves and Calvin Price, in July, 1902, for the murder
of Miss Nellie Reicheldeffer. The earnings of his office for the first year of his term was a little over $6000. Notwithstanding the stern duties he is sometimes called upon to perform, he is a most genial gen- tleman, a pleasant companion and a sincere Christian. For eighteen years he has been a member ot the Christian Church at Lake Creek Township.
ARTHUR G. DAVIS, Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court.
This most efficient and popular of- ficer, was born near Crab Orchard October 9, 1877. The year after his father, Lewis Davis, died and the boy was reared by his mother and step-father, William R. Henshaw. He received kind and careful train- ing on a farm until about 17 years old, when he taught one term of school near Stone Fort. Mr. Hen- shaw having sold his farms and en- gaged in merchandising at Harris- burg, his son entered his employ as Clerk.
After this he attended the Harris- burg High School, from which he graduated in 1898. He then entered Milton College at Milton, Rock Co .. Wisconsin, and remained for four years, paying his own expenses by laboring at odd times and acting as watchman of evenings. But his strength and his money gave out before he got through college, and he never graduated. On returning to Williamson County, he at once took the position of Principal of the Carterville High School for one term and then one term as Principal of the Herrin High School, when he re- ceived his present appointment.
JAMES ARTHUR CAMPBELL, Street Commissioner.
Was born in the country, three miles east of Marion, December 29. 1857. His father was O. G. Canıp- bell, and raised his family on his farm, and until 23 years old Arthur worked on the farm in the summer and patched up a little education at the public schools in the winter. When 23 he and his brother Theo- dore, now dead, opened up a General Merchandise stock of goods at Ma- rion, and for ten years followed mer- chandising, the livery business and dealing in live stock. After closing ont his store and liverv, he handled stock exclusively for about eight years, and then went to work for the city. He was at first overseer of the streets, alleys, sidewalks, etc .. and then became Street Commissioner, and is still serving the city in that capacity. About 1884 he was a member of the old board of school directors, and for two terms its pres- ident. In 1894 he served as Alder- man one term. He has been for
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SOUVENIR OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
many years a member of the South Methodist Episcopal Church, and a trustee and on the building commit- tee that erected the present church building.
His marriage to Miss Samantha Scurlock, daughter of A. B. Scurlock, of Marion, took place July 7th, 1878. The fruit of this union has been five daughters, all of whom are living and two married. Ora married Robt. L. Hudgens, at present Alderman of the First Ward, his second term be- ing about to expire.
J. FRANK THROGMORTON.
The subject of this sketch is the popular and efficient Deputy Sheriff of Williamson County, and is in di- rect line for the office of Sheriff, for which important office he will most likely be nominated by the Repub- lican party for the next time, which nomination is almost equal to an election, as that party is in the su- premacy by 800 to 1000 votes in the County.
Mr. Throgmorton is the son of T. J. Throgmorton, a leading citizen of Grassy precinct. He was born March 11, 1872, in Williamson County, and on September 22, 1895, was mar- ried to Miss Emma Fly, a charming young lady, to which happy union four children have been born, only two of which are yet living.
He was elected constable in 1996, which office he held until March, 1899, when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Williamson County by Sheriff Joab Gray, with the excep- tion of four months, during which time he was in the employ of the Coal Belt Electric Railway Company. He has held the office of Deputy Sheriff continuously, having been in 1902 chosen Deputy by Sheriff H. S. Harris, successor to Sheriff Gray.
His services as Deputy have heen so satisfactory, so successful and so excellent that his party looks upon him as the natural and logical suc- cessor to Sheriff Harris, and should he be such, the people will have their executive matters in judicious, safe hands.
R. P. HILL, Justice of the Peace.
Was born at Ewing, Ill., April 18, 1874. He lost his mother when ten years old, but his father, James C. Hill, is still living in Louisiana. He graduated at Ewing College in the class of 1896. Like the most of American-taught boys, his first oc- cupation after leaving school was teaching school, and he put in one term at that in Crab Orchard Acad- emy the year after he graduated. The following year he ran for County Superintendent of Schools on the Democratic ticket, hut so popular was he that in a Republican district
with a normal majority of 600, he was defeated by only 30 or 40 votes. His friends claim that he was really elected by 60 votes, but was counted out. In 1901 he was elected Justice of the Peace and by the resignation of the acting officer in his favor is also Police Magistrate. In 1898 he took up the real estate business, in which he has been successful, hand- ling farm and coal lands mostly.
However, in company with Spill- man, of DuQuoin, he bought and platted Hill and Spillman's Addition to Marion, which they sold out with- in a year.
His marriage took place December 25, 1901, to Miss Lora Carder, the daughter of Willis Carder, of Crab Orchard. He is a K. P., Monitor Lodge, No. 236, and a member of the order of Elks, No. 800.
ROBERT L. HUDGENS, Alderman First Ward.
Robert L. Hudgens was born in Williamson County February 24,
1866. He received his education at Ewing College, Franklin County, and later took a business course at Lex- ington, Kentucky, where he gradu- ated in 1888. His first employment after leaving college was as a clerk in a General Merchandise store at Pulley's Mills. For three years he was manager of J. M. Jean & Son's wholesale produce.
In 1899 he went into General Mer- chandising on his own account at Marion, which he run for five years.
In 1900 he was elected Alderman of his ward, and is now serving his second term. For the past year he has been in the employ of C. A. Bell, of this city, in Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes and Gents' Furnishings.
WILLIAM J. WALKER, Lumberman and Alderman of First Ward.
William J. Walker comes of Ten- nessee parentage, but was born near Arilla, Jasper County, Mo., Jannary 26, 1853. He came to Illinois in 1865 with is parents, and settled in Franklin County. His father was a farmer, and he received only the ad- vantages of a common school educa- tion.
When but 20 years old he married Medora C. Crawford, and they have had five children, of whom four are now living.
After six years of partnership with Mr. Ferris in a General Merchandise store at Christopher, in Franklin County, they burned out and he re- moved to Marion and has for fifteen years been huying and shipping hard-wood lumber and timher. He is a Democrat in politics and was elected Alderman at the last city election. He is not a church mem- ber nor a society man, but is very
popular with his constituents never- theless.
B. H. JETER,
Grocer and Alderman First Ward.
Was born in Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois, August 20th, 1849. When an infant his parents moved to Marion, and soon after to St. Clair County, near Mascoutah, where his father, John J. Jeter, followed his trade of blacksmithing and farm- ing for a good many years. Ben was reared and educated on the farm, brought up to handle the plow, and inherited the vigorous constitution which generally goes with it.
July 28, 1869, just before he be- came 20 years old, he chose a help- mate in the person of Miss M. A. LaMaster, and the same year moved back to Marion and went onto the farm, where he lived and worked for twenty years.
When the coal fields of Williamson County began to be developed, Mr. Jeter mined coal in the winter and "minded" his farm in the summer for some years. He then came to Marion and run a retail coal yard in connection with the teaming business for five years. He now has a grocery store on North Jeter street, near West Main street, which he opened in August, 1903. In politics Mr. Jeter is a life-long Republican, but has never been very active in party politics. At the last municipal elec- tion, April, 1905, he ran for Alder- man of the First Ward, and was elected over his opponent, W. J. Walker, by $7 votes. He and his worthy spouse are both members of the M. E. Church at Cedar Grove, but attend Dr. Thomson's church in Marion. He is a member of the in- surance order of the Golden Cross, and his wife is active as a member of the W. C. T. U. of Marion.
As a family man Mr. Jeter takes the cake and platter, too. They could easily carry off the Rooseveltian gold medal for the most numerous family of children in the county, or perhaps in the state. No less than fifteen children, ten boys and six girls, have arisen to call them bles- sed, of whom twelve are living. Six are married and six unmarried, but all are living within sight of the pa- ternal home. Eleven grandchildren have come to help fill the branches of the family tree. It would he hard to find another family in the state its equal, though happily Illinois has not yet decided on race suicide.
GEORGE L. BRACK, Alderman Second Ward.
Mr. Brack is a native of Grassy Precinct, Williamson County, Illi- nois, where he was born March 21, 1869. He lost his father, after whom he was named, when hut three
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SOUVENIR OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
months old, and was raised on a farm by his step-father, Willis Hoov- er. His education was limited by
the possibilities of our common schools, until thirteen years old. At that tender age he began for him- self and earned his first money at plowing with oxen, for which he re- ceived twenty-five cents a day.
On the first of September, 1894, he was married to Miss Gertie Rich- ardson, by whom he has had three children, of whom two are now liv- ing. Three years later he moved to Marion and settled in the Second Ward, where he still resides. He at once began to work in mine No. 2. and has never had occasion to change either his occupation or his mine.
After two years' work he was given an electric mining machine, which he has run without change for five years. None of his predecessors ran it over two years, which shows the esteem in which he is held hy his employers. He is a Democrat in politics and was elected to the City Council in the Spring of 1903.
JOSEPH FOZARD,
Alderman Third Ward. Carpenter, Contractor and Builder.
This gentleman is a native of Yorkshire, England, born at Battey January 15, 1853. His father, Mar- tin Fozard, was a woolen manufac- turer in England, and went to work at the same business on coming to this country, about 1859. He set- tled in New Jersey about the begin- ning of the war and brought up his son to the same trade. In 1868 the family came to Marion, and not long after the Edwards Woolen Mill was started, and for about 25 years the family found employment there. When the business declined, Joe turned his attention to bee-keeping and the manufacture of the Langs- troth patent hive, but that business declined also, and he gradually left it off and worked more and more at the carpenter's trade, which he still follows. With the exception of one term, he has served as Alderman of the city continuously for fourteen years, being twice elected by the vol- untary concurrence of opposing par- ties, and the last time unanimously, a record without a parallel in the politics of this country. His first election to the Council was in 1887. He was re-elected in 1890, but hav- ing moved a few feet over the line outside of the corporation when he built his shop and wind mill, he was thrown out by the opposition and only served two months.
In 1901 and again in 1903 he he- came Alderman, and still "holds the fort." In the old State Militia Fo- zard always took an active interest and served for sixteen years in that and the Illinois National Guards,
which grew out of it. He went
from the ranks to Captain, to which he was elected three times. When the Spanish War broke out he of- fered his services, but as the war closed suddenly, he was not needed and was never accepted. As a recognition, however, of his merit, hy special act of the Legislature un- der Governor Tanner, he was made honorary commander of cavalry, with the grade of First Lieutenant.
He was married August 26th, 1879, to Miss Emma Evans, daugh- ter of Dr. W. S. Evans, of Marion, by whom he has had two sons, Wal- ter E. and Joe. Since 1876 he has been a Royal Arch Mason and Odd Fellow.
OTIS W. WILLIAMS,
Furniture and Undertaker and
Alderman Third Ward.
Otis W. Williams was born Sep- tember 16, 1870, in Wayne County, Illinois. At the age of thirteen, he moved with his parents to Marion. In 1891 he went to Creal Springs and in 1892 was married to Miss Anna Jones, then a teacher in the Creal Springs schools. He was ap- pointed Postmaster in 1894, and served in that vocation for four years, at the end of which time he moved to Marion. Here he was elected Alderman in Ward 3 in 1902, and is still serving in that of- fice. He is a contractor and builder.
In 1904 Mr. Williams purchased the furniture business now owned by him in the new Hyde building, and closed out his business as carpenter, contractor and builder.
W. F. WRIGHT, Alderman of Fourth Ward.
Was born in Williamson County, Illinois, July 28th, 1852. The home of his youth was about five miles from Stone Fort, on a farm, where he followed the plow until about 1890. He came to Marion in the Fall of 1900, and in 1903 hought a half interest in the marble works of J. J. Simpson. He sold his inter- est after two years to C. A. Gent, and went on the road for him for three years. This arrangement last- ed for three years more. when Gent sold to him and he ran it himself three years more. In January of the present year he sold to Oliver J. Page, and opened a grocery and butcher shop, which he is still run- ning.
His wife was Miss Martha Ellen Travelstead, a daughter of Peter Travelstead, of Kentucky, to whom he was united May 11th, 1873. Five children have been horn of this union, all of whom are living. They are: A. P. Wright, Esco W., Celes- tine, Bessie and John.
He was elected to the Council in
April of this year on the Democratic ticket. He belongs to the Mission- ary Baptist church.
JAMES L. ADAMS,
Capitalist and Alderman of Fourth Ward.
James L. Adams was born in Dick- son County, Tennessee, February S, 1836, and came with his parents to Randolph County, Illinois, when but three years old. His parents were John Adams and Martha Kennedy, who were natives of North Carolina but came to Tennessee while young and married there. They settled in Randolph County in 1839, and fol- lowed farming in that an! the ad- joining county of Washington when Southern Illinois was a comparative wilderness. James received only such book-learning as the schools of those days could furnish, and as there were no free schools the con- stant struggle with the difficulties of a pioneer life left him little chance for an education. When twenty years old he moved to Jackson Co., and ahout a year and a half later into Williamson, where he has lived ever since. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the 110th Illinois regi- ment, Co. C., and served continuous- ly during the war. In September, 1864, he was wounded at the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., and returned home on furlough. After 30 days he rejoined his command at Savannah, which General Sherman soon after reached at the termination of his fa- mous "picnic" through Georgia. The combined commands reached Columbia, South Carolina, when the surrender of Lee's forces wound up the great struggle.
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