USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois with life sketches and portraits > Part 16
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Politically, Mr. Shoemaker has always been a Democrat. His popularity was evidenced, however, in his election to the office of county clerk in 1877, and by a constitutional change, served five years. He made a strong race for clerk later, but was defeated, the county being overwhelmingly Republican. Twice has he made flattering races for sheriff. In July, 1894, he was appointed postmaster of Metropolis and served until July, 1898. At present Mr. Shoemaker is doing a prosperous life insurance business.
October 13, 1880, Mr. Shoemaker and Miss Anna E., daugh- ter of David S. and Mary A. Laughlin, of Metropolis, were married. They are both members of the M. E. church and are highly respected.
WILLIAM P. McCARTNEY.
An announcement in the Promulgator: "Born to the wife of Robert W. McCartney, of this firm, a son, the 18th inst., (May, 1870,) at 5 a. m. Name William Priestly. Mother
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and son doing nicely. Ye junior editor is pleased, pensive and proud," gave notice of the debut into society of the only surviving descendant of the late Judge R. W. McCartney.
The mother of W. P. McCartney was the youngest daugh- ter of William M. and Mary V. Priestly, and she died, leaving the subject of this sketch (and a brother, who survived the mother only four years), infants of tender years.
But the early training of the boy was not neglected be- cause of this unfortunate combination. Attendant upon the public schools of Metropolis, Norris Joiner and W. P. McCart- ney were the only two lads of their class of Metropolis Public Schools, that were not too wise to study to the end of their course ; so in the year 1886 W. P. McCartney was graduated from our High Schools. That fall he entered the Detroit High School, of Detroit, Michigan, and the fall of 1888 entered the University of Illinois. He was absent from the College during the year 1891, returning in January, 1892. He finished his four years at the University, the highest institution in our State school system, which bestowed upon him the Degree of Bachelor of Science, and was graduated with honors in the World's Fair class.
Since that time he has taught his special sciences, physics and chemistry; studied law; conducted a model pharmacy in Metropolis, Illinois, and has spent no little time in the man- agement of his estates and in travel.
In April, 1898, he enlisted in the service of the U. S. V., and was detailed to special scientific service in the Spanish- American campaigns. He was honorably discharged, Oct. 11, 1898. Since that time he has continued his law studies and during the college year of 1899-1900, he has attended the lec- tures in the College of Law in his Alma Mater.
September 17th, 1895, Mr. McCartney was married to Miss Mayme Perrine of Mound City, Illinois, and their home has been blessed by the advent of three sturdy boys, Robert A., H. Dewey, and James Scott, the latter being born during the residence of the family in Champaign, Illinois.
It has been the ambition of W. P. McCartney to rise in
W. P. MCCARTNEY.
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GREEN B. CHOAT.
MRS. G. B. CHOAT.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
that branch of the profession known as lego-medical juris- prudence, and to this end he has spared neither energy, time or finances. The coming June will find him engaged in his chosen line and we bespeak for him, because of his easy ad- dress, broad culture and tact, a high and honorable position in the courts of our state.
Socially Mr. McCartney is an advanced Odd Fellow, a member of Massac Lodge No. 442, and a member of Orestes Lodge Knights of Pythias; an officer in Longley Camp No. 150, Sons of Veterans, U. S. A .; a member of the B. P. O. E .; Pres- ident of the University of Illinois Society of the Army and Navy in the War of 1898; a fellow in the T. S. G .; proprietor of the McCartney Music Hall and Public Library Block, and of the McCartney Drug Block of the city of Metropolis, together with other valuable interests throughout Massac county. AI- together W. P. McCartney is ranked in the fore front of our best citizens. J. B. S.
EUGENE LAFONT.
Eugene Lafont, manager and part proprietor of the Em- pire Flouring Mills, at Metropolis, Massac county, is a son of Lewis A Lafont, who came from Missouri to Illinois, 1850, married Miss Malinda Choat of Metropolis, engaged in general merchandising and continued in said business for a number of years. He then made brick and built a large number of the early brick structures of Metropolis, among them the Em- pire Mill, putting in machinery and running it for four years. To them were born nine children: Augustus, died in Massac county; Eugene, lives in Metropolis; Mary, deceased; Lena, wife of W. W. Largent, Harrisburg, Ill .; Fannie, widow of Reuben Dye, and Walter, Willie, Charles and Richard, all four deceased.
Eugene Lafont was born in Metropolis, March 22, 1857, and was reared in that city. When but fourteen, his mother who yet lives with him, needed his assistance in caring for the
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younger children. He had already received a little educa- tion in the common schools, sufficient to enable him to carry on such work as he found to do. He ran the mill dray, the engine, and every detail of the work was mastered by him in a careful, painstaking way. He was observing, faithful and practical, and in 1880 purchased an interest in the mill, since which time he has been the manager, building up a profitable and established trade. New improvements have judiciously been made, keeping the mill abreast of its time.
In 1877 he and Miss Malissa, estimable daughter of W. P. and Mrs. Bruner, were married. They have two bright, in- dustrious and manly boys, William A., a graduate of Metrop- olis High School, and now an expert stenographer, enjoying a good position in St. Louis, and Roy, who is yet at home. Polit- ically, Mr. Lafont is a Democrat; fraternally an Odd Fellow. having represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of 1892. He is also a member of Metropolis Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Lafont is an active and useful Methodist. Mr. Lafont is a man of more than ordinary business ability, genial, cour- teous and has a host of friends. His grandfather and grand- mother-Mr. and Mrs. Green B. Choat, were among the ear- liest and lived to be the oldest citizens of the county.
Green B. Choat, born in Tennessee, July 3, 1810, came to this section before the county was formed. He was a consta- ble for twenty years and also served as county commissioner. October 26, 1898, he died at his residence in Metropolis, III. Mrs. Green B. Choat, formerly Miss Tabitha Holland, was born in Tennessee, February 20, 1817, and was married March 5th, 1835. She is still living in Metropolis. Four daughters still live, Mesdames Malinda Fafont, Julia Musgrove, Charlotte Brown, and Lou White.
July 4, 1893, the teachers presented a silver mounted cane to Mr. Choat, and a silver sugar shell and butter knife to Mrs. Chcat, as the oldest citizens of Massac county.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
FRED R. YOUNG.
Frederick Randolph Young, only son of Dr. J. D. Young, whose sketch appears elsewhere, was born April 11, 1871, at Brooklyn, Illinois, and received his early training in the vil- lage schools.
He learned rapidly and at an early age taught two suc- cessful terms of school. Desirous to lay a broader foundation for professional work he entered Eureka College, Woodford, county, Illinois, and spent two years in pursuit of special branches. Returning to Brooklyn he was principal for two years of the schools, which he attended in youth.
In the meantime he read law and finished with one term in the law department of the Wesleyan University of Bloom- ington, being admitted August, 1897, and immediately began the practice of his profession in Metropolis.
Politically he is a zealous Republican, and in 1898 was chosen chairman of the county central committee of Massac county. In March, 1900, he was nominated by the Republi-
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cans as candidate for the office of State's Attorney, and elected Nov. 6, 1900.
Fraternally Mr. Young was made a Mason when only two months past twenty-one, is a Royal Arch Mason and member of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41, Knights Templar of Me- tropolis. December 27, 1897, he and Miss Azalie Jones, then a teacher in our city schools, were married and they have one daughter, Laura Effie, born Oct. 1, 1899.
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EDWARD OSCAR SEXTON.
Captain Burton Sexton, father of our sketch, was born in Henry county, Tenn., 1837, and early came to Johnson county, where he married Mary E. Neely, who had come from Living- ston county, Ky.
Edward Oscar was born in Johnson county, Ill., March 18, 1869, and with his parents went to Kansas, where they resided for some time, returning to Illinois in 1874, and locating in Massac county, where Captain Sexton now resides.
Mr. Sexton attended the rural schools and spent three
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years in the National Institute, Madisonville, Ky., graduating at the age of 18 years, and holds a diploma leading to the de- gree of B. C. Returning to Joppa, Ill., he clerked during the fall and winter of 1889 and 1890, and formed a partnership with his brother-in-law in the latter year. During 1897 he served as deputy circuit clerk, but resigned to engage in more lucrative employment. He is now doing a prosperous insur- ance business in Metropolis, Ill.
. December 5th, 1897, he was married to Miss Dickie Oakes, daughter of John Oakes, a leading citizen of Massac county. Mr. and Mrs. Sexton are among the most promising young peo- ple of their county and the future has good things in store for them.
ALBERT RANDOLPH COOK.
PASTOR CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 8th, 1874, in a one-window cabin in Crawford county, Ohio, the son of Johns S. Cook, a local United Brethren minister, and Caroline Cook, the daughter of John Rasey, an early settler among the Wyan- dot Indians. His mother died when he was five days old. Of his father's ancestors he knows nothing. His mother's people are quite numerous in Northwestern Ohio.
Young Albert attended the common schools of his native county until his eleventh year, when his father moved to Car- roll county, Tenn., where he enjoyed the same privilege. At eighteen he entered the High School, Cato, N. Y., graduating in 1892, in which year he entered Hiram College, better known as "Garfield's School," Hiram, Ohio. He remained two years, completing three years' work and also preaching as he had done since his nineteenth year. He is now actively engaged in the ministry.
He was pastor of the Christian Church at Rolla, Mo., and also Richland, Mo. At McLeansboro, Ill., his next charge, he made many friends and succeeded. Although only twenty-six he is on his second year as pastor of the Christian church at Metropolis, Ill., and meeting with abundant success. Being a
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close student and having extensively traveled he is original, forceful, fluent and instructive in his discourses. We predict for him a bright future.
December 12th, 1899, he married Miss Anna L. Mason, of McLeansboro, Ill., who no doubt will prove an efficient help- meet to the brilliant young divine, and author of the chapter on the History of the Christian church in Massac county, found in this volume, and is the candidate of the Prohibition party for the Legislature in the Fifty-first Senatorial District this year.
JOHN R. TURNBO.
ALDERMAN.
Robert Turnbo and Isabella Cook were born and married in Graves county, Ky., were freed by Lincoln, and moved near Brooklyn, at the close of the War, coming to Metropolis in 1881. The father was paralyzed and rendered helpless Thanksgiving day, 1887, and died July 21, 1893; the mother died April 17, 1887, leaving a large family.
John L. Turnbo, their son, was born in Massac county Aug. 30th, 1871, and at his mother's death was left to care for an invalid father and five sisters. Although but 16 years old, he quit school, and began farming and teaming to make a living until 1887, when he entered the brick firm of Grace & Co., and had purchased all the interests by 1893. He now took a term of Academic training, brick laying, and mechanical drawing in the renowned Tuskeegee Institute, Alabama. He is a scien- tific maker of brick, and has been unable to supply the de- mand. A large boiler and new kiln will be added to his plant this year, increasing its capacity to 20,000 bricks daily.
Mr. Turnbo is a stalwart Republican, never bolting his ticket. In 1898 he was elected city councilman from his ward, and returned again in 1900. In fraternal circles he is a G. U. 0. O. F., filling every office in the local lodge, Illinois Star Lodge No. 1808, and was sent as district delegate to the Grand Lodge, which made him Deputy Grand Master of Illinois one year. He holds a life membership in the district lodge. He
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ELDER A. R. COOK. . (See page 235).
CHAS. R. OTEY. (See page 239).
£
JOHN L. TURNBO. (See page 236).
METROPOLH
METROPOLIS SANITARIUM.
(See pages 216 and 220).
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MASSAC COUNTY.
became a member of the A. M. E. Church in 1884, filled every office in the local church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for twelve years. He was elected lay delegate by the Illinois conference in 1896 to the General Conference held at Wilmington, N. C., and re-elected in 1899 to attend the conference which convened in May, 1900, at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Turnbo stands high in the community.
CHARLES R. OTEY.
Chas. R. Otey was born in Crawford county, Ill., on the 27th day of March, 1879. He is the oldest son of C. R. and Ida Otey, of Morea, III.
On account of an accident at an early age, his education was limited, but at the age of seventeen his desire for an edu- cation caused him to come to Metropolis, Aug. 24, 1896, where he attended High School, the following year.
During the winter of 1897-'98 he taught school at Maple Grove and the two following winters at Powers, receiving an increase in salary the second year. He attended two terms of school at the Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbon- dale, during the summer of 1899, where he ranked high in all studies pursued. This winter he is teaching at Anderson school at a salary rarely received in the rural schools in this section of the state.
Mr. Otey is an active member of the M. E. church and Temperance Union, a model young man, intelligent, quiet and industrious, having great esteem for his fellow men and a dis- taste for the ill-will of any one.
He is a staunch Republican and cast his vote first for the the re-election of the man whom he thinks one of the three great presidents destined to guide our grand nation through a great struggle.
HON. JONATHAN C. WILLIS.
Jonathan Clay Willis, of Metropolis, Massac county, Illi- nois, was born on a farm in Sumner county, Tennessee, on the 27th of June, 1826. The ancestors on the paternal side immi-
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grated to this country from England in 1647. Seven brothers came over and settled in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and North Carolina. His grandfather, Richard Willis, was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and fought under General Washington during that entire struggle. He settled in North Carolina after the war, where he died at the age of eighty in the year 1800.
His father's name was also Richard Willis, who, during the earlier part of his life, farmed and taught school, alter- nately in North Carolina and Tennessee, and his mother's name was Catherine Brigham of English descent, her ances- tors having immigrated to North Carolina three generations previously. His parents moved to Illinois in 1833 and settled in Gallatin county, where they both died three years later. Jonathan C. is the eleventh child of a family of twelve chil- dren, six sons and six daughters, eleven of whom lived to ma- turity.
Being left an orphan at the early age of eleven years, and thrown upon his own resources for obtaining a livelihood and an education, the struggle for the former left him but little opportunity for the latter in youth, consequently his education was limited to such branches as were supposed to be of most practical use. He settled himself in Golconda, Pope county. in 1843, and followed different occupations, particularly that of flat-boating on the rivers, until 1852, when he was elected sheriff of Pope county, and was re-elected to the same position in 1856, serving two terms.
In April, 1859, he removed to Metropolis, Massac county, and engaged in wharfboating, and forwarding and commission business, which he pursued with considerable success until the outbreak of the late war, when he heartily espoused the Union cause, and entered the Federal srvice in August, 1861, as quartermaster of the Forty-Eightlı Regiment, Illinois In- fantry, which position he filled with great credit until June, 1862, when he was compelled to resign on account of serious injuries sustained by a fall from his horse. On his recovery - he resumed his former business.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
In 1868 he was elected on the Republican ticket to repre- sent his district, composed of the counties of Massac, Pope and Johnson, in the State Legislature, where he won considerable distinction, as an able, faithful and efficient working member. In 1869 he was appointed collector of Internal Revenue of the Thirteenth District of Illinois, which position he still retains, discharging its onerous and responsible duties not only to the satisfaction of the department he represents, but to all parties interested. He has long been identified with the business in- terests of Southern Illinois and in most of his ventures has been remarkably successful. Comparatively few men have risen more rapidly from a position of poverty and obscurity to one of prominence, activity and success. As a business man he is eminently practical, honest and straightforward, a clear thinker, easy and affable in manners; genial, friendly and hospitable and being possessed of a remarkable flow of animal spirits he is a most agreeable companion and a highly popular gentleman in society. He is, moreover, keen and accurate in his judgment of men and things, and of wonderful persistence in the pursuit of his favorite plans and measures. To this trait in his character, more than to any other, is due his great success. His example may well afford inspiration to young men of noble aspirations.
In politics he has been Republican since 1860; one of the most influential members of his party in Southern Illinois, and the favorite candidate of his district for Congressional honors at the ensuing nomination.
He was raised under Baptist influence, but lately has favored the Methodist denomination.
He is a conspicuous Mason in his locality, having been a member of the order since 1853, and of Metropolitan Lodge No. 91, since 1859.
On the 16th of February, 1859, he married Miss Fannie E. Ward, daughter of the late Jacob Ward, of the county of Wex- ford, Ireland, who started for the United States with his daughter when she was 13 years of age. He died and was buried at sea. She is a lady of much personal beauty, of high
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intellectual and educational attainments, most amiable and charming, both in the family and social circle; and to her wise counsels and womanly influence is largely due the success of her husband. They have five children-four boys and one girl-all being carefully educated. (This sketch was written in 1876 by William M. Murphy.)
As additional to the above sketch, Captain Willis was Mayor of Metropolis, 1871-72, County Judge from 1886 to 1890; member of the Railroad and Warehouse Commission of Illi- nois, October, 1891, and Supervisor of the Twelfth Census for the Sixteenth District, 1900. Of more local interest is his service of two terms on the County Board of Massac county, where he has always exercised an influence in the betterment of the financial condition of the county. In 1883 he was elect- ed and county orders were going at from 40 cents to 50 cents on the dollar. They were soon worth 100 cents. In 1897 he was re-elected. All his commissions as Internal Revenue Col- lector ,three in number, bear President Grant's signature.
In the early efforts to secure a railroad he acted as chair- man of the Citizens' committee and visited Samuel J. Tilden of New York in 1888 to secure his aid. While a member of the General Assembly he voted for the amendments to the Fed- eral Constitution conferring the rights of citizenship upon the colored man. He is the only living resident charter member of the Gethsemane Commandery Knights Templar and he holds liberal views toward all religious bodies.
CAPT. S. B. KERR.
S. Bartlett Kerr was born in Burnham, Me., Oct. 18, 1863, and when a lad was brought to Metropolis by his parents, grad- uated in the Metropolis High School, 1884, and from the Liter- ary and Law Departments of McKendree College, 1889, with the degrees of B. L. and M. L. He earned his own education by carpenter work and school teaching. He was admitted to the bar in 1889. From 1881 to 1889 he taught school, two years of which time were spent in the Metropolis .City Schools.
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CAPT. S. B. KERR,
DR. J. H. NORRIS,
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MASSAC COUNTY.
At the age of 22 years he was elected as a member of the Board of Education; in 1891, city clerk, and in 1892, was nom- inated and elected circuit clerk of Massac county by the Re- publiean party. He was chosen secretary of the Senatorial committee of the Fifty-first District in 1884; Chairman in 1896, and was appointed clerk of the Appropriations Committee in the State Senate by its Chairman, Hon. P. T. Chapman, during the Firty-first General Assembly. Feburary 3rd, 1900, he received the unanimous instructions of Massac county for the Forty-Second General Assembly, and was nominated by the Senatorial convention at Mound City, July 18, 1900, and elect- ed without opposition Nov. 6, 1900. He was a commissioned officer of the National Guard from 1884 to 1890, and raised a company of 174 volunteers in the war with Spain. Religiously he is a Methodist and a leading member of several prominent fraternal organizations.
December 21, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Eva, daughter of Dr. James E. Gowan of Massac county, who has proven herself a most worthy helpmate. They have had three children, Adaline G., born December 27, 1892, and died Feb- ruary 17, 1896; Lloyd B., born September 28, 1894; and E. Virgil, born June 27, 1897.
DR. JOHN HARDIN NORRIS.
Thomas Norris, grandfather of Dr. Norris, was born in Ireland of Scotch parentage, who with his two brothers, Wil- liam and James, comprised the family, and early emigrated to Virginia. Thomas, about 1825, moved to Kentucky, accom- panied by his wife and one child. They traveled by means of an ox-team. On Rolling Fork of Salt river he purchased and cleared a traet of land, but in 1840 came to Tazewell county, Illinois, and died there. Mrs. Thomas Norris was a Miss Ju- dith Rodgers, a native of Virginia, who died in Tazewell eoun- ty. Their family comprised Moses, William, Susan, Mary, Thomas, John, James and Joseph.
Moses, the father of our subjeet, was born in Virginia,
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reared on the farm, purchased a homestead in Marion county, Ky., and dwelt there until 1832, when he sold his land and moved to Tazewell county, Ill., accompanied by his wife and child, on horseback. He chose a tract of land near Mackinaw, became one of its first settlers, before Chicago was heard of. In 1840 he again sold out, and sought the frontier in Iowa, but the winters were too severe, and in 1843 he went south, locat- ing near Osage River, Mo., and in 1845, settled permanently near Rolla, Mo., amassed considerable wealth, but the guerril- las during the Civil War, destroyed fully $20,000 in buildings and stock. He returned to Rolla and lived there until his death. His wife was Miss Keziah D. Tucker, born in Ken- tucky, a daughter of Matthew Tucker. She died at Rolla. Mr. and Mrs. Norris were the parents of four children; John H., Annie, Sarah and Mary.
John H. Norris was born in Marion county, Ky., August 29, 1830, was two years old when brought to Illinois, attended the pioneer schools of Tazewell county ten weeks before he was eleven years old, and taught the same school at eighteen. Home was his school, his mother his teacher. The fireplace and sheet-iron lamp with 'coon oil his light. He became not only prominent in his profession, but was well versed in liter- ature also.
While engaged in teaching, he studied medicine and in 1856 graduated from the St. Louis Medical College and Keokuk Medical College, and began practice at Mulkeytown, Ill., re- maining there until 1857, when he moved to Williamson coun- ty. In 1860 he went to Grantsburg, Johnson county, and practiced until December 21, 1863, when he enlisted in Com- pany M, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, with the rank of cap- tain. He served with valor on several important battlefields and was mustered out in August, 1865. Returning to Grants- burg, he continued to practice medicine until one year later when he moved to Vienna, Johnson county. Here he lived until 1870, when he went to Carmi, Ill., practiced one year, re- turned to Vienna, and remained there until 1872.
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