USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois with life sketches and portraits > Part 21
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HISTORY OF
METHODISM.
BROOKLYN CIRCUIT.
The Brooklyn circuit of the Methodist church, formerly Metropolis circuit as it was designated, comprises the congre- gations of Brooklyn, and Powers in the country.
THE BROOKLYN CLASS was organized in 1897 by Rev. S. D. Smith, a pious young minister, now deceased, assisted by Rev. J. W. Jackson. The charter members were John Chap- nian, W. J. Margraves, George Rush, George Davis, George Mayo, F. W. Fulks, Margaret Lynn, Mary E. Margrave, Mary Chapman, Carrie Arnold, Martha Clarida, Mary Mayo, Nancy Verback, Reed Lynn, Annie Davis, Ethel Margraves, and Cora Pride.
The official board was composed of W. J. Margraves, John Chapman and George Rush. Rev. S. D. Smith was their pas- tor until the conference year, 1897, when Rev. W. D. Hopkins was assigned and was quite successful. Rev. S. O. Sheridan was assigned by the conference for 1898 and returned. He more than trebled the membership.
Under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Hopkins a church was started and dedicated under the ministry of Rev. Sheridan, by Rev. J. W. Jackson, September, 1899. The building is neat, substantial and a credit to the little band of faithful workers.
POWERS CHURCH is older than its sister church of Brooklyn. From October, 1888, Rev. F. J. Davis served until October, 1899; G. W. Lauderdale to 1890; F. M. Brooks to Brooks to 1891; John R. Reef to 1892; Thomas O. Holley to 1893; H. J. Davis to 1894; J. H. Bennett to 1895; A. R. Red- man to 1896; S. D. Smith to 1897; W. D. Hopkins to 1898; S. O. Sheridan to 1900.
From 1895 to 1897 the congregation composed of many of the very best citizens of the community, built a neat and com- mendable little church costing over $1,000, which is about four miles from Metropolis. The official members are William Dye, Hon. F. M. Armstrong, M. B. Hutchinson, Henry Arnes- man, Sr., and Charles R. Otey.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANISM
IN MASSAC COUNTY.
Rev. R. L. McElree in 1861 or '62 organized the first Cum- berland Presbyterian church ever established in Massac coun- ty. It consisted of fourteen members and maintained its or- ganization a few years; holding its meetings in a school house in Jackson precinct, which had been enlarged for the purpose by building a shed covered by clap-boards and "boxed in" with rough lumber and attached to the school house in front, there- by making it necessary for the minister to stand in the door of the school house and preach right and left to his audience, as some were in the house and some in the shed.
Rev. McElree being called to broader and more promising fields of usefulness, the church was left without a pastor, and most of the members attached themselves to either the Metho- dist or United Brethren churches of the vicinity.
No further efforts at organization were made by the Presby. terians until the spring of 1879, when Rev. James M. Wyc- koff, of the Illinois Presbytery, wrote R. Byrd Leeper asking if he thought the outlook would justify an effort to estab- lish a C. P. church in the vicinity. In answer he was told that the effort would prove fruitless unless a $2,000 church house was erected right at first. That this would give evi- dence of permanency and, where people have their money invested they are likely to feel interested.
As discouraging as the situation seemed to be the effort was made, and within five months from the time of the first correspondence, a beautiful site just north of Unionville had been selected, the rough lumber placed on the ground and the carpenters were at work; Mr. A. S. Sterling being chief archi- tect and builder.
In due course of time those interested in the enterprise were rewarded by seeing one of the most commodious, substan- tial and handsome rural church edifices in the county com-
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HISTORY OF
pleted and paid for at a cost of $2,250.00. The better class of the whole community, regardless of church affiliations, scemed to take pride in the movement and donated liberally as did also Paducah, Metropolis, and other smaller towns ad- jacent.
But few of the pioneer Cumberland Presbyterians of the church of 1861-62 were now left to enjoy their new home; but with these and other good men and women who came from neighboring churches and cast their lot with them, a new organization was effeeted Nov. 20, 1881, numbering 13 mem- bers. Under the ministration of Revs. J. M. Wyckoff, J. M. Bell, Robert M. Pryor and John Allen (the latter now in charge) the organization has continued to prosper and increase in membership until it now numbers about 100 members.
LEEPER.
UNIONVILLE.
ROBERT TEMPLIN LEEPER, son of Robert Leeper, a Revo- lutionary soldier, was born in Caldwell county, Ky., Dee. 17, 1800, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who early emigrated to South Carolina from Seotland, subsequently moving to Kentucky, and aided in the capture and execution of the notorious "Big Harpe," the outlaw.
In 1818 he married Elizabeth Sexton, who became the mother of three daughters, and died in Hinds county, Miss., where they had gone into the wild forest on the stage road be- tween Jackson and Vicksburg in 1826. After the mother died he sent his daughters back to Kentucky and was overseer of a large plantation for two years when he returned to Kentucky and married Elizabeth Shelby Harmon Jan. 20, 1831. Imme- diately they returned to Mississippi and opened a large farm, built a huge log tavern on the stage road, and it was fre- quented by many leading statesmen traveling from Jackson to Vicksburg. Having inereased his farm to 700 aeres he sold it in 1835 for $14,000.00 and returned to Caldwell county, Ken- tucky, to educate his children. In 1887 his son, R. Byrd Lee-
ROBERT T. LEEPER.
R. BYRD LEEPER.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
per, found the log tavern occupied and in good repair, though near the famous battlefield of Champion Hill. The purchaser of his father's farm was still hale and hearty.
Six years were spent in Caldwell county, where he bought a farm near Smithland, Ky., then the commercial center of the Ohio valley, and after two years opened an extensive mercan- tile enterprise in which all his wealth was lost and he 46 years of age. With an indebtedness of $3,000, ill health and a family, he came to Jackson precinct, Massac county, entered land, three years after the organization of the county, in twelve years had paid the $3,000 and owned a home on whichi he died Oct. 31, 1881, aged 80 years, 10 months and 14 days.
When he located in Massac county only a few scattering improvements consisting usually of a log cabin and rail stable, existed. A log house of rude structure used for a church and school house. Law and order were ruthlessly violated and Mr. Leeper was chosen justice of the peace, often filing com- plaint, issuing and serving the warrants, trying the case and taking the criminal to jail.
Ever active in all public enterprises he was a most valu- able member of society. In his earlier years he belonged to the "Old School Presbyterian" persuasion, but later lead in the organization, establishment and maintenance of the Cum- berland Presbyterian class at Unionville. Politically he was carly a whig but afterward he affiliated with the democrats. R. Byrd Leeper of Unionville, and Mrs. Corley, Jackson pre- cinct, are his children.
ROBERT BYRD LEEPER, youngest child and only son of Robert T. and Elizabeth S. Leeper, was born in Livingston county, Ky., near Smithland, May 15th, -846. When he was seven months of age his parents moved to Massac county, Illi- nois, and settled on the farm now occupied by the said son. In fact, that part of the farm upon which the residence stands was entered by the father in his son's name when the latter was two years of age, the patent being signed by President James K. Polk.
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HISTORY OF
It would be difficult for the present generation of boys and girls to comprehend the privations and disadvantages under which the Massac county boy of fifty years ago grew up. He considered himself lucky if he got to attend school three or four months during winter, sit on a backless puncheon bench (from which the splinters had not always been very carefully removed, wear a homespun suit of "janes" and a pair of cow. hide shoes if he were fortunate enough to possess any at all; learn his lessons without the aid of blackboards, maps or charts; with no writing desk in front of him and no stove to warm him, much less a hot air furnace; having to "take his turn" in sitting by the "fire place" to warm his toes, and at dinner time if he chanced to be the proud displayer of a bis- cuit or piece of light bread became the envied as well as peti- tioned for "just one little bite" by the majority of his fellows. At that time there was not as much wheat grown in the whole county as is produced by some one of our many good farmers at the present time. Yet the boy of 50 years ago seemed as happy, sprightly and even more healthy than do the boys of 1900.
Few country boys at that time cared to rush off to town, but contented themselves with home duties and pleasures, as- sisting their fathers in raising crops and clearing more land; spending their evenings at home around the open log fire, read- ing books or pursuing still further the studies taken up iu school. Their isolation tauglit them to love home and make the best of it possible; while at the same time they acquired the habit of reading and study; the blessings of which will last them through life. With these environments the subject of this writing grew up to manhood, attending the district schools until he was 19 years of age, when he attended Shurt. liff college, Alton, Ill., one term and on returning home was solicited to take charge of the public school in his district, which he did, teaching five terms in his home district and eight in others, always near enough that he could attend from home.
He carried on his farm operations in the meantime and
MRS. MONTEREY LEEPER.
1
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MASSAC COUNTY.
having a natural love of horticulture (in which he is an author- ity) he early became one of the pioneers in fruit growing and is still planting out a new orchard every few years. On Sept. 23d, 1869, he was married to Miss Monterey Morris of New Or. leans, who was taken from him by death March 3d, 1899, leav- ing one child, Robert C. Leeper, born July 19, 1872. Their first and only other child, Minnie Grace, dying May 28th, 1872. aged 19 months.
Though one of the prime movers in the erection of Mt. Sterling church near Unionville, and an ardent advocate of all moral and educational institutions, he remained rather skeptical religiously until nearly 45 years of age, when the "scales fell from his eyes" and he became a member of the Mt. Sterling Cumberland Presbyterian church March 29th, 1891, and was soon after chosen as one of the ruling elders, which position he still retains.
Politically he is thoroughly independent, but generally affiliates with the democrats.
MRS. MONTEREY LEEPER, daughter of Robert and Armilda Morris, was born in Pope county, Illinois, near New Liberty, Sept. 6th, 1848. When 11 years of age she emigrated with her parents to New Orleans, where she grew to womanhood and was graduated at the age of 17 from the high school of that city; after which she was engaged as teacher in the city schools until 1869 when she was married to R. Byrd Leeper, settling with him on their home in Jackson precinct where she applied herself most assiduously to the duties of a farmer's wife. Later on they resided four years in Metropolis, and still retaining her love of teaching she accepted a position in the graded school of Metropolis, teaching three terms; after which they returned to their farm and much of her time was given to local missionary work in her community.
Her whole soul was enlisted in the cause, and few, if any, irreligious persons of that vicinity can say that they never received a word of instruction and encouragement from her.
None were too humble or fallen for her to plead with and
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HISTORY OF
pray for, and she lived to see some of the fruits of her labors in the conversion of many, some of whom were far down the western slope of life and said but for her entreaties they would not have stopped to make the necessary preparation be fore reaching "the dark river." To instruct her infant class in Sunday school was one of her greatest pleasures, and great er devotion between the teacher and pupils never existed Though she was taken from them by death March 3d, 1899, they never neglect to decorate her grave with flowers many times each summer.
Though removed from her church and community her good works will live after her. A faithful wife, a devoted mother and an earnest christian.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
GEORGE'S CREEK.
NEW COLOMBIA-Among beautiful landscapes, sur- rounded by perpetual springs that gush out of red sandstone, hills sits New Colombia, once the home of lawlessness, but now quiet and well behaved.
In the early forties Sylvester Smith settled near and the first site laid out on his farm. During 1861 J. P. Choat came with a store. April 28th, 1862, he brought his family and he still lives in New Colombia, the next oldest living citizen of Massac county, having been a member of the first petit jury and the only living member. Mr. Choat purchased the original store of Lark and Jack Simpson, who went to Kansas. The Simpsons built a flouring mill. It was destroyed by fire in 1863, but was re-built by Lark Simpson and sold to J. P. Choat and Son H, deceased. In 1882 fire destroyed it.
Jack Simpson built the first hotel and it passed to Mr. Choat. Fire in 1882 almost destroyed the town.
Among the old landmarks are: Dr. A. B. Moore, still liv- ing at 75 years; William Brown, farmer; William F. Teague, merchant, deceased; Mrs. Clendennen, widow; Thomas John- son, farmer; Nat Comer, grocer; Lark Simpson, merchant. de- ceased; Dr. R. H. Pollard, druggist and postmaster in the 60's; L. D. Stophlet, also an early druggist, deceased; J. W Burn- ett, druggist, who died lately at Alto Pass, Ill.
In the language of the local poet, G. N. Gray:
"New Colombia was once a thriving town, And for its industry had great renown."
The place was once large enough to incorporate. The name is derived from a common plant and "New" was prefixed to distinguish the postoffice from another Colombia in the state.
There are now three stores, one harness and one black- smith shop, drug store, school, church, and saw mill. Those
340
HISTORY OF
in business are A. F. Nutty, John Nutty, Willis Richardson, Elijah Teague, Dr. A. T. Mobley, Thomas Cagle and Thomas Evans.
SAMOTH located near Johnson county line and the name of the postoffice is a partial transposition of the word "Thomas," in honor of Congressman John R. Thomas. Wal- nut Ridge is the name of the village.
The village is located one and one-half miles from New Colombia on the Metropolis and Vienna road in a fine tillable tract of land, which contains many excellent farms.
Berry Walker was the first owner of the farm now occu- pied by the village, sold it to J. L. Johnson and went to Kan- sas 1870. W. T. Cagle purchased the farm and erected the first business houses-a cotton gin, grist mill and store house, in 1873, and a saw mill in 1875. William Calhoun and Doctor Grissom built the first residences.
Dr. Grissom was the first physician, the postoffice was es- tablished 1876 and W. T. Cagle was the first postmaster. He retired in 1884 and Dr. A. T. Mobley, now of New Colombia, succeeded him until 1889 in the mercantile business. A. F. Nutty now conducts a general store but also operates the flour- ing mill successfully. Madison Yandell also conducts a gen- eral store. Stophlet & McBride conduct a first-class black- smith and woodwork shop. J. F. McBride, also a J. P., is the postmaster.
The physicians who have practiced here are Drs. Grissom, A. T. Mobley, R. H. Pollard, Elmore, J. W. Wymore, A. B. Ag- new and J. A. Helm. The population is about 100 and the people are hospitable.
RICHARD H. POLLARD, M. D.
Doctor Richard H. Pollard was born in the Greenville district, South Carolina, July 14, 1819. His father was James A. Pollard, who married Miss Elizabeth Clarke of South Car. olina. His paternal and maternal ancestry was English.
When but 15 years of age the young lad enlisted in the
RICHARD H. POLLARD, M. D.
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS S. MORGAN.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
Seminole war under Captain Campbell and went from Mont- gomery, Ala., to Mobile and thence to Tampa Bay, Florida. He served gallantly through this war and contracted an acute derangement of the digestive organs.
Upon his return to Montgomery, Ala., his physician or- dered him to Knoxville, Tenn., for the beneficial effects of the latitude upon his constitution.
In early life he acquired the rudiments of an education which he now broadened and completed by an extended classi- cal conrse in the famous University of Tennessee under the direction of Dr. Joseph Eastbrook, president, graduating with honors. Returning home he began to read medicine with Drs. Fox and Saunders, being later compelled by ill health to seek a more northerly climate. He located at Princeton, Ky., and pursued his medical studies with Dr. Throgmorton in connec- tion with Young Throgmorton, a nephew of the doctor, who was later Governor Throgmorton of Texas.
Dr. Pollard began the practice of medicine at Princeton, Ky., and in 1855 he came to Metropolis. Later he moved to New Colombia, Ill., and thence to Memphis, Tenn., where he conducted an extensive drug store and was attacked with the yellow fever but recovered. Mrs. Pollard, formerly Miss Nancy L., daughter of Elias Calvert, fell a victim to the dreaded scourge. Only one child, Charles R., resulted from this union. He is a wealthy commission merchant of Mem- phis.
About 1878 Dr. Pollard went to Samoth, Massac county, where he has had, perhaps, the largest practice in the county. The doctor is a member of the Christian church and a Royal Arch Mason. In 1883 he married Miss Belle English, his pres- ent wife, and they have a lovely home in Samoth.
THOMAS S. MORGAN.
Thomas S. Morgan was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina, Sept. 16, 1833, of poor parents, the oldest of cleven children. His father manufactured tobacco for six years until
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HISTORY OF
1851, when he moved to Henry county, Tennessee, and con- tinued in the business through 1858 in partnership with Isaac Dale.
January 12th, 1858, he married Nancy J. Dale, daughter of Isaac Dale, and became co-partner with his father-in-law in the manufacture of tobacco until 1862, when he came North on account of rebel persecution, being always a strong unionist.
He arrived at the place where he yet resides Jan. 7, 1863, with his family, prepared to manufacture tobacco, but a gov- ernment tax of 40 cents a pound made the business here un- profitable and he sold his machinery.
Until 1890 he conducted an extensive wagon factory, when he sold out his shops and has farmed since. In 1890 he was elected county commissioner by the republicans and made a good officer.
His first wife died Nov. 24, 1880, and left him with six small children. February 1, 1881, he married the widow of Mr. R. D. Hight, daughter of Dr. J. T. White. They reside on their elegant farm in George's Creek precinct, prosperous honored and happy.
JOHN WESLEY WYMORE, M. D.
Dr. J. W. Wymore was born July 1, 1866, in Grantsburg precinct, Johnson county, Illinois. James Wymore, formerly of Kentucky, was his father, who married Miss Narcissus Deb- nam of Johnson county. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, the doctor being the eldest. Three are dead, Mesdames Lucinda Davis and Nancy Ann Davis, both reside in Johnson county, Illinois; Mrs. Lydia Sturgis lives in Metropolis.
Young Wymore attended the common schools, private normals and the Southern Illinois Normal, Carbondale, III. He taught three years and matriculated in the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, St. Louis, 1889, graduating from the Marion Sims college of St. Louis in 1891 and began the prac- tice of his profession at Samoth, where he has continued and has an extensive patronage.
DR. J. W. WYMORE.
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MR. AND MRS. CHARLES D. McBRIDE.
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MASSAC COUNTY.
November 1, 1891, he married Miss Isabella, daughter of Heury and Margaret Howell, one of the most estimable fami- lies of Johnson county. She was born in January, 1865. To them have been born three children of whom two are dead and one, Lannes Earl, was born September 29, 1894, yet living.
Dr. Wymore has filled all the chairs in the New Colombia lodge No. 336, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Hurricane lodge No. 617, I. O. O. F. He owns an elegant country home in Johnson county.
CHARLES D. McBRIDE.
The subject of this sketch was born and bred on a farm near Samoth, adjoining the one where his paternal parent, John McBride, was born, lived and died Jan. 26th, 1899.
Charles D. McBride first saw the light July 4th, 1870, the natal day of "Garibaldi, the Liberator," and the auspicious date when the courageous colonists declared their indepen- dence from the despotism of George III. of England. His maternal parent, Sally Ann McBride. is surviving and super- intending the farm. He is next to the eldest of nine children. three of whom are dead. He entered the happy state of Hymen Dec. 23rd, 1897. His wife, Rose (nee Denison), was born Oct. 21st, 1876, at Eddyville, Pope county, Illinois. Her father, J. P. Denison, resides at Goreville, Ill., where her mother, Adde- ville, died March 19th, 1900.
He is one of the "plain people" and by profession is a tiller of the soil, a sturdy son of toil. He believes work is real worship; that farming is the foundation for all future progress.
Although not a pioneer of the county it may be fairly stated that Mr. McBride is a pioneer in the wild west of re- form agitation. He is a fearless free thinker, and, perhaps, the most radical one in the county, possessing the courage of his convictions to practice what he preaches. There are cer- tain schools of thought, i. e., Unitarians, Theosophists, Spir- itualists, Deists, Atheists and Agnostics; the latter term was coined by Professor Thomas Huxley of England. Mr. Mc-
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HISTORY OF
Bride is an Ingersoll Agnostic. He reads and contributes reg- ularly to the leading Free-thought journals of the country; namely, "The Truth Seeker," New York, and "Free-thought Magazine," Chicago, also to the "Boston Traveler," one of the oldest and best secular newspapers printed in the United States. He is always ready to vindicate his views in the press or on the platform. Politically he bolted the republican party, "the house of Hanna," during the memorable campaign of 1896, consequently he stands today with some of the prom- inent political reformers throughout the length and breadth of the country. Since Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll's death in the summer of 1899, he thinks the most eloquent and extem- poraneous orator, scholar and statesman before the public is William Jennings Bryan.
Mr. McBride is intensely patriotic and loves liberty with every fibre of his being; he loves the good, the true, and beau- tiful, an admirer of nature and her handiwork. He devotes his leisure to literature, is fond of flowers, poetry, music and painting. The above cut is an exact reproduction from a pho- tograph as Mr. McBride and his wife appear in life.
JOHN McBRIDE.
The accompanying cut is a fac-simile reproduction of the features of Mr. and Mrs. John McBride, pioneers of Massac county. John McBride was born April 23rd, 1844, and is a native of Massac county.
His father, David McBride, was a native of Alabama, and came to Illinois when Metropolis was a mere village. He de- parted this life April 21st, 1873.
His mother, Mary McBride (nee Rushin), was a Ten- nesseean by birth, who married early in life, and emigrated to Illinois with her husband. She died April 7th, 1872. His wife, Sally Ann McBride (nee Pippins), was born in Kentucky, Feb. 15th, 1844; her father, Guilford Pippins, was born in Guil- ford county, Virginia, and died Feb. 14th, 1846.
Her mother, Sarah Pippins, (nee Mozeley), was born in
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MASSAC COUNTY.
Tennessee, and came to Illinois in the early days; her transi- tion occurred Oct. 7th, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. McBride were married Jan. 17th, 1867. Nine children were the fruits of this union, six of whom are living, namely, J. F., Charles D., Eliza J., Mathis, Cora Reed, Aretta B. and Chester A .; also ten grandchildren grace this wedded mutualism. Being a. con- sistent Baptist, it is appropriate to add parenthetically that Mrs. McBride's belief trends that way religiously.
When the blaring bugle of war blew its tocsin blast in each patriot's ear from '61-5, Mr. McBride at the plastic age of 17 answered to the appeal to arms and enlisted in company K, 1st Illinois L. A., and endured the trials and tribulations of warfare for three fearful years, thereby undermining his health. Thus he was ever attended hy excruciating afdiction. He was a member of J. B. Smith post No. 651. Mr. McBride shunned society and courted the tranquil retreats of solitude in the country. He was an ardent nimrod and passionately loved piscatorial pursuits. He possessed common sense in plenty, and was honest to the point of painfulness. He was a stalwart, life-long republican. His death, Jan. 26th, 1899, made an irreparable loss to his family and countless friends.
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