USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois with life sketches and portraits > Part 19
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Brooklyn lies across the Ohio river and a little below Pa- ducah, Ky. It is on the Illinois shore in Massac county, Illi- nois, and is the second largest city in the county, but in point of growth surpasses them all. At the coming of the railroad the inhabitants did not exceed 100 souls, but it gradually in- creased in size and volume of business until it has attained its present enviable proportions. Within the last three years the population has more than doubled, the volume of busi- uess greatly increased, the quality of buildings improved, and the character of the little city changed. It now contains fully 1,500 people, intelligent, industrious and moral.
The Christian church is a splendid building and that body maintains a large congregation. The Methodist Episcopal church also has a neat and commodious house of worship. The Missionary Baptists have an organization and are a potent factor for good. The colored people also maintain an African Methodist, General Baptist and Missionary Baptist churches.
In 1870 they had no school. Four years ago (1896) two white teachers and one colored teacher instructed the chil- dren. Their school houses were over crowded frames. Today they have a two-story brick, high school, heated with a furnace, fitted with slate black board and well equipped throughout with helpful apparatus and books. Professor A. L. Whitten- burg, a professional teacher of experience and good record, is principal. He has prepared a three-year high school course and presented the same to the Board of Education in a neatly printed pamphlet. The common school course of the state is used as the basis below the high school. Miss Anna Farrow, a graduate of Metropolis schools, is his assistant. Mesdames G. Lay Wolfe and Fannie Williamson, both excellent teachers. are the instructors of the grades. One colored teacher is em- ployed.
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The first Board of Education, six members and a presi- dent, was elected in April, 1900. Mrs. Durham is president. The members are Andrew Utterback, O. H. Margrave, Mrs. Dr. C. A. Mozley, John Chapman, John Black and Mrs. P. H. Mur- ray. They are extending every possible aid to the teachers and propose to maintain a school system worthy their pro- gressive little city.
The reason for this growth is due first to the character of the pushing business men; second, to the most excellent farming community which surrounds the little city; third, to the transfer of the Illinois Central trains across the Ohio river at this point, and the location of their extensive train yards there; and fourth, to the fact that it has been made the trans- fer point of freight from the steamboats to the railroad for northern markets and especially the greatest distributing point for railroad ties in the world. These are made on the timberlands of the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Wabash and either rafted or shipped in huge barges to Brooklyn to be transferred by the millions to the railroads. Over five thousand dollars each week are paid the tie laborers in wages. At one time 32 steamboats were moving about the wharf while the author counted nine on Nov. 20, 1900, and this is below the average daily number to be seen there. The United States dredge boat is now lengthening the harbor.
The Brooklyn Eagle, a six column quarto, was established by Messrs. Page and Wolfe in August, 1898, and is stiil pub- lished by the latter, G. Lay Wolfe. It has a large circulation and has been a material aid in the development of Brooklyn.
The character of the buildings has undergone a marvelous change. From the average river town house of logs, boards, etc., there are being erected at any time from three to ten modern frame dwellings, while lately J. R. Smith & Sons of Paducah have erected a commodious three apartment, two- story brick business house to be occupied by the Utterback Brothers. Several more will be built in the spring. It is a question of only a short time when a bank will also be insti- tuted.
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The present hustling village board is composed of Wil- liam Pell, mayor; O. M. Morglin, city clerk; Felix Kalbacker, treasurer; R. B. Lytton, marshal; police magistrate, Judge Deegan; Messrs. J. L. Massie, A. M. J. Todd, P. H. Murray, G. W. Russel, John Chapman and Joseph Phillips, aldermen. They meet the evening of the first Tuesday of each month.
Andrew Utterback and Butterworth conduct an extensive grocery as does also C. Marshal; A. P. Utterback & Co. have conducted a large dry goods and furnishing store for several years; J. L. Massie maintains an immense general store, as do also O. S. Butler and John Chapman; Smith Utterback sells a fine line of hardware exclusively, while J. L. King keeps the furniture store; Felix Kalbacker is the baker and grocer; Mrs. J. E. Dingman and E. McCormick each have a stock of general merchandise; Dr. M. M. Glass and E. Baugh each con- duct first-class drug stores; Jacob Fry is the proprietor and operator of the Brooklyn flouring mills. There are two barber shops, four saloons, the Brooklyn cedar post factory, A. J. Weaver's livery stable, the round house, offices of the Ayre & Lord Tie Company, the William Dugger and H. W. Meyer hotels, Drs. Young, Johnson, Mozeley, Dodd and Glass, prac- ticing Physicians; Attorney Henley, and as a most important factor, Jasper Margrave, real estate agent.
The largest private enterprise is the milling interest of O. H. Margrave, ex-mayor of Brooklyn. Mr. Margrave began with a saw mill on the river front, cutting building and wagon timbers. He has by business sagacity and energy gradually expanded until he is now constructing a large saw mill and planing mill of enormous capacity, which will be a great as- sistance to the city.
Today Brooklyn offers superior river and railroad facilities to manufacturing industries and is ready and willing to co- operate in the location of the same.
J. D. YOUNG, M. D.
Elijah Young, father of the Hon. J. D. Young was born Oct. 3, 1803, in Hopkinsville, Ky., of French Huguenot ances-
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HISTORY OF
tors, who had formerly settled at Jamestown, Va., in an early day. He was a slave holder and raised a regiment for the Mexican war. He wielded considerable influence politically and many politicians of wide reputation visited him. In 1885 he died in Mt. Vernon, Ill., while passing through that place. His wife was Anna Stilly, whose ancestry was of North Caro- lina, where she was born. She married her husband in Hen- ry county, Tennessee, 1841. While visiting her son, the doc- tor, in Pellonia, she died Dee. 23, 1880.
John Decatur Young was born to Elijah and Anna Young in Henry county, Tennessee, Oct. 18, 1844. He attended Bethel Academy one year and was principally educated un- der the private instruction of his cousin, who was a proficient teacher.
Upon the death of his father, the estate was declared in- solvent and at the early age of eleven years our subject was thrown upon his own responsibility and the care of a wid- owed mother with three other children became his portion. Though never taught to labor the brave lad farmed courage- ously from 1855 to 1860, when the family came to New Col- ombia, Illinois, and had 25 cents upon their arrival. He farmed until July, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, 120th Illinois regiment, and served until the close of the war. During his war service he served six months in the prison hell, Andersonville.
Returning from the war he again farmed and married Miss Luey, daughter of Mr. Calhoun, New Colombia, Illinois. In 1868 he rented out the farm and began the study of medicine with Drs. Norris and Bratton. In 1870 he came to Pellonia and entered his profession, and matriculated in the Louisville Medical College in 1873, graduating in 1874. After praetie- ing successfully for the fourth of a century he retired in 1899 on account of failing health. He has been an active member of all the leading medical societies and has been a member of the pension board of United States examining physicians and surgeons, and was removed in 1884 for offensive partisanship.
Besides work along lines of his chosen profession Dr.
Missing Page
Missing Page
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MASSAC COUNTY.
Young was the first mayor of Brooklyn, serving several terms, member of the school board and elected president of the Board of Education in December, 1900. In 1880 he was elected by the republicans as a member of the legislature of Illinois and was chairman of the committee which secured the passage of a bill to make the extensive and valuable geo- logical survey of Illinois under the direction of Professor Northern. He has been prominently mentioned for state senator and congressman, but ill-health has always interfered. Mrs. Laura Adkins, wife of Dr. Adkins, and States Attorney F. R. Young are their only children.
MITCHELL PELL.
Mr. Mitchell Pell was born and reared in Indiana. In 1836 he married Susan J. Badger, who died August, 1840, and he married Miss E. A. Badger December 7, 1841. Several chil- dren were born but died early. Elizabeth Josephine, how- ever, was born at Rose Claire, Ill., where her parents lived, Jan. 8, 1844. She is now Mrs. Samuel Atwell of Metropolis. Mrs. Pell died Dec. 31, 1845, and Mr. Pell was married to M. A. Steele April 8, 1847, and she died March 30, 1851.
March 24, 1861, Mr. Pell was united in marriage to Re- becca Louisa Patterson and they are the parents of three living children, William, born July 25, 1862; Mitchell, Jr., born March 16, 1871, and Alma Alice, born April 2, 1867, and now the wife of Phillip H. Murray, one of Brooklyn's leading citizens. Mrs. Pell still lives in the old home in Brooklyn. Mr. Pell went to Metropolis to invoice a cargo of meat, etc., purchased there for him preparatory to its being sent down the river. His horse was at the home of his son-in-law, Captain Samuel At- well, and while going from the wharf to the house he was stricken with paralysis and died Jan. 24, 1871.
Mr. Pell was one of the early citizens of Brooklyn, com- ing before 1850. In fact, he materially aided in the develop- ment of the village. He was a Methodist and republican. When he first came to Brooklyn his health was very poor.
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Later he improved and opened a general store which he cou ducted over fifteen years. His name is preserved in the post- office, "Pellonia."
William Henry Clay Pell, oldest son of Mitchell and Rebecca Louisa Pell, born in Brooklyn, July 25, 1861, educated in the common schools, conducted a grocery for a number of years, sold out, bought the tow boat "Maggie Belle" and has for several years been engaged in the tie business.
He has served his city in many ways, was elected mayor a number of terms and when the citizens cast about for a suit- able candidate last spring he was prevailed upon to again serve them. Mr. Pell is a zealous and influential republican and lives with his mother in the old hoome to comfort and protect her in her old age.
CHARLIE ALMUS MOZLEY, M. D.
Dr. Charlie Almus Mozley is the son of Captain J. T. Moz- ley of Co. B, 120th Illinois, and Margaret E. (Worley) Mozley. His father was a native of Tennessee, who came to Grantsburg township, Johnson county and has established a splendid fruit farm. His mother, formerly Miss Margaret E. Worley, was born in Johnson county.
The natal day of Dr. Charles A. Mozley was September 27, 1872, on his father's farm in Johnson county, Ill. He was educated in the public schools and spent his early years in agriculture.
He held a teacher's certificate, but never taught. Instead he began to read medicine in 1890 with Drs. Bratton and Mc- Call of Vienna, Johnson county. In September, 1890, he ma- triculated in the college of Physicians at St. Louis, Mo., and graduated March 4, 1892.
Returning home he formed a partnership in the practice of medicine with Dr. Walker at Wartrace P. O., Old Grants- burg, Johnson county, Ill., which continued until he located at Hillerman, Massac county, Illinois, in May, 1893, remaining there three years when he located at Brooklyn, Illinois, April,
DR. AND MRS. C. A. MOZLEY.
ELDER AND MRS. G. LAY WOLFE.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
1896, and has built up a splendid practice. December 1, 1900, he graduated in the correspondence course of the College of Hygiene, Champaign, Ill.
From June, 1899, to July 1900, he conducted a drug store in Brooklyn. In 1899 and 1900 he was secretary of the local board of health, conducting the delicate correspondence with the state board during the great epidemic of small pox. In 1898 he was elected mayor of Brooklyn and served with credit.
June 25, 1893, he and Miss Ella Phillips were married. She is the daughter of Joseph and Pernina Phillips and was born June 6, 1875, in Franklin county, Ill. Mrs. Mozley has been a successful teacher and is at present clerk of the Brook- lyn Board of Education. They have one child Paul Phillips, born September 29, 1895.
ELDER G. LAY WOLFE.
Elder G. Lay Wolfe, editor and publisher of the Brook- lyn Eagle, is the son of R. Jay Wolfe, a veteran of the Civil war in company D, 8th Illinois. He was born in Delaware county, Indiana, Feb. 10, 1859, reared on a farm and attended the common school.
He established circulating libraries a number of years and became conversant with many of our best authors. In March, 1891, he was converted and united with the Christian church at Cisne, Illinois, and on July 3, 1891, was married to Miss Minnie Truscott of that place.
A desire to preach the gospel lay hold upon him aud to better prepare for the ministry he attended Eureka college. He has been pastor of the Christian churches at Heyworth, Kenney, Vienna and Brooklyn, Ills., serving three years with the latter congregation. His strongest faculty, however, is in the evangelistic field, having held meetings with marked success in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Tennessee.
In Kenney he purchased "The Herald," an independent weekly newspaper, which he greatly improved and sold. In August, 1898, in connection with O. J. Page, he founded the
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Brooklyn Eagle, at first an independent, but later a republi- can weekly newspaper of large circulation and inestimable value to Brooklyn, and which he still publishes. In the late campaign he made a number of telling speeches.
Mrs. Minnie, wife of G. Lay Wolfe, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Truscott, Cisne, Wayne county, Illinois, born March 1, 1867. She received a good education and early became a teacher, filling many of the best positions offered by her profession in her native county, and receiving the highest commendations of her superintendents.
In 1891 she married Mr. Wolfe and was appointed post- master of Cisne by President Mckinley. She is one of the teachers at present in the Brooklyn public schools, giving abundant satisfaction.
DWIGHT R. STONE.
Dwight Roland Stone is the son of James Stone, born Feb. 14, 1845, in Calloway county, Ky. His father was born near Nashville, Tenn., April 12, 1810, farmed, taught school, moved to western Kentucky and was county surveyor. He died in Graves county, Ky., Jan. 1, 1881. Roland Stone, grandfather of our subject, came from Londonderry, Ireland, when three years of age, and died in about 1850 at a ripe old age. His mother's maiden name was Paulina Hicks, born in Henry county, Tenn., about 1816, and died Dec. 23, 1880, in the same room, where her husband died one week later. Her father, William M. Hicks, hunted and fought the Indians in Tennessee with Davie Crockett. His father was killed by the Tories in South Carolina during the Revolution. William Absher. her maternal grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier who was with Washington at Yorktown.
Dwight R. Stone attended subscription school, labored on the farm while young and when the war broke out served several years with his brother as a Union scout in western Kentucky and Tennessee. In June, 1864, he enlisted at Padu- cah in the First Kentucky State Guards, third battalion, com-
MR. AND MRS. DWIGHT R. STONE,
R. B. LYTTON.
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MASSAC COUNTY .
pany A, and served throughout the war. For seven months he was with Gregory.
In 1870 Mr. Stone came to Massac county, located on a farm three miles from Brooklyn, which he sold in 1898 and has resided in Brooklyn several years, where he has an elegant home.
In politics Mr. Stone is zealously republican, has served his community as constable for five terms, village marshal of Brooklyn, township treasurer, 6-5, for twelve years, and is a deputy sheriff at present.
February 6, 1865, he and Miss Hannah J. Congleton were married. She is the daughter of James Congleton, a veteran of both the Mexican and civil wars, and was born June 25, 1849, in Graves county, Ky. They have no children.
R. B. LYTTON,
MARSHAL.
Solomon Lytton, Sr., was the son of Caleb Lytton, who settled on the site of Evansville, Ind., and died there. Solomon came to Illinois in 1827 and settled in Brooklyn precinct. He later occupied a farm in Washington precinct and died in about 1877. His wife was Miss Ada Babb, daughter of Caleb Babb, of Kentucky. She died four years before her husband. They were the parents of nineteen children, of whom six are yet living.
Solomon Lytton, Jr., one of the sons, was born in Wash- ington precinct May 5, 1839, and Catherine King, who became his wife, was born Aug. 30, 1843, in the same precinct. She was the daughter of Reuben King. They were married Nov. 3, 1859, and have five boys: James B., Amaziah, Robert B., Charles E., Arthur and Eugene, and two girls, Mamie and Ella. Mr. Lytton has been school director and justice of the peace. They live in Brooklyn, where he buys grain. Mr. Lytton and his father were members of the first republican convention in Massac county.
Robert B., or as he is commonly called, "R. B.," is the fourth child, born Dec. 13, 1866, in Washington precinct,
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reared on the farm, educated in the rural schools, and early took a deep interest in the welfare of the community.
He served on the school board when just old enough, and road commissioner of district No. 2 for three years. He was precinct committeeman on the republican county central com- mittee for a number of years.
In February, 1896, he went to Brooklyn and engaged in the carpenter's trade. May 3rd, 1899, he was elected village marshal and re-elected by a handsome plurality in 1900, which office he now holds. He was elected president of the Brooklyn McKinley and Yates club during the campaign. For two years he was a volunteer in company G, eighth Illinois state guards, and when the company was disbanded served two years more in the Fourth regiment. He is a member of Orestes lodge Knights of Pythias No. 268, is affable, gentle, manly and has many friends.
GEORGE RUSH,
POSTMASTER.
Dr. Benjamin Rush was a member of the continental con- gress from Pennsylvania and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. George Rush, grandfather of our subject, was a native of New Jersey, the father of Dr. C. S. Rush, who was born in New Jersey Ang. 26, 1824, reared in Philadelphia and graduated as a pharmacist and physician.
For several years he practiced his profession and kept a drug store in the Quaker City, later coming to Paducah, Ky., where he conducted a drug store. Here he met and married Harriet E. Vance about 1849. She was born in West Virginia. There eleven children were born, Charles and Owen D. live in Massac county, William V. lives in New Hope, Saline County, and Agnes E. is the wife of John S. Lewis, a leading citizen of Carbondale, Ill. In 1853 Dr. Rush moved from Paducah, Ky., to his large farm in Washington precinct, Massac county, where he built up an extensive practice. He has lived in Metropolis since 1891 and is now retired.
George Rush was born May 22, 1851, in Paducah, Ky., at-
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MASSAC COUNTY.
tended the public schools and in 1870 began clerking in A. D. Davis, dry goods store, Metropolis, which he continued to do for three and one-half years. His health being bad he carpen- tered, went south and thence to Corning, Iowa, where he clerked ten years and returned to Washington precinct to open a grocery store.
Later he moved to Brooklyn before the railroad came and opened a store. He purchased and disposed of five different stocks of goods in Brooklyn during his experience as a mer- chant.
In 1891 he entered the service of the Ohio and Mississippi Towing Co. and in the fall of 1892 purchased their towboat and barges. The panic set in and property previously very valu- able became practically worthless. A storm also wrecked the towboat requiring $1,400 to repair and refloat it. The out- fit was sold to parties who failed to pay for it and resulted in a total loss. In February, 1900, he entered the employ of the Naugle, Holcomb & Co. as their shipping clerk.
Although a partisan republican Mr. Rush was appointed postmaster by Grover Cleveland during his first term and continued under President Harrison. He was re-appointed muder President McKinley. The office paid $75.00 a year when he was first made postmaster. It pays $600 and clerk hire now.
August 5, 1878, he and Miss Lizzie Stockton, of Phila- delphia, were married. She was born and reared in that city and is a close descendant of Commodore Stockton. They have three children, Owen J., Helen L. and Herbert.
JACOB W. FRY.
Jacob W. Fry is the son of Henry Fry, descendant of the good old Pennsylvania German stock. His mother was Esther Kinser, also of Pennsylvania. While married they lived in Green county, Tennessee, where August 22, 1833, their son Jacob was born.
In 1843 they moved to Johnson county, Ill., locating three miles north of Vienna, and not liking the country in 1844
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HISTORY OF
moved to Massac county, buying the improvement on a farm on the Vienna road near New Columbia, and died there in 1845.
Jacob W. moved into Washington precinct in 1847. He married Miss Mary A. Dye Sept. 6, 1854, and she is still living. They went to housekeeping in the neighborhood, but he being of a mechanical turn of mind they moved to Metropolis in 1856. In 1883 they went to Kentucky, where Mr. Fry operated a saw and flour mill of his own and in 1893 came to Brooklyn, Illinois.
Since then he has been connected with all forward move- ments to upbuild his chosen city. He owns and operates the Brooklyn flouring mills and does a good business. Mr. and Mrs. Fry are the parents of eleven children, all of whom are dead except their son, John W., who lives at Melber, McCrack- en county, Kentucky, and conducts a large mill, store and is postmaster.
All his life Mr. Fry has been a zealous christian. He was converted and joined the Methodist church in 1854. En 1856 he united with the Baptist congregation at Waldo, became their deacon, changed to Metropolis congregation and served as deacon and trustee. He also holds those important po- sitions in the church at Brooklyn.
LEWIS CUMMINS.
The grandfather of Lewis Cummins was Zachariah Cum- mins, born in England and early emigrated to Virginia, resid- ing several years near Richmond. He and Daniel Boone went to Kentucky together. Mr. Cummins purchased and improved a large tract of land in Trimble county, Kentucky, where he lived until 1836, when he sold everything and came to Pope county, Illinois. Later he lived with his children in Johnson county, and died at 76 years of age. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife was a Miss Lydia Arnett, born in North Carolina, a practicing physician of repute and died in John- son county.
Thomas Cummins, father of Lewis, born and reared in Virginia, joined the family in Kentucky. He was a carpenter
DR. JOHN T. CUMMINS.
MRS. LEWIS CUMMINS.
LEWIS CUMMINS.
MASSAC COUNTY. 305
and physician. He, his second wife and three children accom- panied his father, Zachariah, to Illinois on a flatboat in 1836. When he landed at Metropolis there were six houses and the county sparsely settled. He purchased forty acres of land in Grantsburg township, Johnson county, entered 160 more and lived there until his death at the age of 81 years. His wife was Sarah Gabbart, of German ancestry, born in Mercer coun- ty. Ky., and died in Trimble county.
Lewis Cummins was born in Trimble county, Ky., Der. 27, 1824. His mother died when he was eighteen mouths old, was raised by his maternal grandparents and at 16 years of age became overseer of his grandfather's immense plantation. He was a soldier iu the Mexican war, later superintended his uncle's ways at Smithland, Ky., about three years, then came to Johnson county, Ill. He purchased a farm in Grantsburg township, built a log house, was successful in farming and in IS65 entered the mercantile business at Metropolis.
September, 1849, he married Miss Mary J. Comer, born in Halifax county, Virginia, and daughter of John E. and Martha (Epps) Comer. John T., Zachariah, America Belle, wife of Mr. J. C. Howell, all of Metropolis and Lewis G., de- ceased are their children. Mr. and Mrs. Cummins were Meth- odists. Mr. Cummins was a Mason of many years and at his death May 3, 1898, he was interred under the services of that order.
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