USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume II > Part 33
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at Herrin in 1903. Felix Grundy Blackard, the eldest child by the first wife, was born in White county, Sept. 16, 1830. He received such an education as the common schools of that day afforded, and by reading and self-study he has added to that until he is one of the well informed men of his section. Upon reaching manhood he became a farmer, which occupation he followed all through his active life. In his earlier years he was noted for his talent for music and taught singing schools over a large part of Southern Illinois, being the first teacher of music to introduce the "round note system" in that part of the country. Mr. Blackard has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Sarah Gott, of Gallatin county. Her children were Sarah Catherine and Martha, who died in childhood; and Solon Douglas, who died in 1881. The second marriage was to Mrs. Harriet A. Oliver, née Pearce, a daughter of James Pearce of White county. Ten children have been born to this second marriage. Herman Madden lives at Omaha; Mamie Ann married Edward Moore and died in 1889; William J. is superintendent of the Gallatin county schools ; John C. is in Omaha; Nellie and Edwin died in childhood; May is at home; Ethel died in infancy ; Alma married Charles C. Green and died in January, 1904, and Lou is at home, a teacher in the public schools.
JAMES CYRIL SULLIVAN, M.D., a well known physician of Cairo, Ill., was born at Weston on the Humber, York county, Ontario, Dec. 17, 1844, his parents being John L. and Hannah (Warren) Sullivan. In 1867-68 he took his first course of medical lectures in college at St. Louis. In 1871 he entered the University of Louisville and received the degree of M.D. from that institution on February 29th, of the following year. Since that time he has been in continuous practice at Cairo, where he has built up a lucrative business and has accumulated considerable property. Doctor Sulli- van belongs to the American, State, District and County Medical as- sociations, in the work of which he takes an active part, having read papers on some phase of medical practice before meetings of all. At the present time he is a member of the Illinois State board of health. In addition to his profession he is deeply interested in astronomy, and in 1892 published a text book on the subject called "Celestial Physics."
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On Sept. II, 1883, Doctor Sullivan was married to Miss Hannah, daughter of Patrick and Ellen Smith, old residents of Cairo, and to this union there has been born one son, James Albert. He was born Nov. 7, 1884, graduated from the Cairo high school, and is now a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of St. Louis. Polit- ically Doctor Sullivan is a Republican. In religious matters he has followed in the footsteps of his parents, who were Catholics, though his mother's people belonged to the Episcopal church. He also be- longs to the Catholic Knights of America.
ALPHEUS ALONZO BONDURANT, M.D., one of the leading physicians of Cairo, Ill., and a specialist in diseases of the eye and ear, is of French descent, his great-grandfather, Benjamin Bondurant, coming from that country to America be- fore the Revolutionary war. He first located in Virginia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, but later removed to Tennessee. One of his sons, Robert Alfred, married in Tennessee and went to Ken- tucky after reaching middle life, where he passed the remainder of his days. was born in Tennessee, not far from
His son, John S., Dresden, married Julia Edmiston, a native of that state,
went with his father to Kentucky and there followed farm- ing all his life. In his lifetime he was an ardent Democrat, a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife be- longed to the Baptist church. She is still living in Fulton county, Ky. Dr. Bondurant is the second of nine children born to John S. and Julia Bondurant, five of whom are still living. He was born in Ful- ton county, Ky., and acquired his education in the common schools and the Fulton high school. In 1872 he went into the office of Dr. Charles W. Miles, at Jordan, Ky., and commenced the study of medicine. During the years 1873-74 he attended the medical department of the university of Louisville, and in 1875 graduated from the Bellevue Hos- pital Medical college of New York. He located at Charleston, Mo., and practiced there until 1892, when he came to Cairo, having first taken a special course in the New York Eye and Ear infirmary, of which class of diseases he makes a specialty, though he has a large general practice. Dr. Bondurant is a member of the American and
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the Illinois State Medical associations; the Medical society of Alex- ander county, and was one of the charter members of the Southeast Missouri Medical association, of which he served as president the first year of its existence. In addition to his professional interests he is a member of the McKnight-Keaton Grocery Company. He is a Demo- crat in his political views, though not an active politician ; is a Knight Templar Mason, and with his family belongs to the Baptist church. On Sept. 8, 1875, he was married to Miss Mary J. Boker, of Charles- ton. The children born to this marriage are: Levie, wife of C. L. Keaton, Jr .; Eunice, now secretary of the McKnight-Keaton company ; Earl, wife of J. W. Bradford, of Union county, Tenn. ; Flint, attending the Northwestern university; Vela, Alonzo, David S., and Iona, at home ; and one who died in infancy. Levie and Eunice are graduates of Stephens Female college, Columbia, Mo. Dr. Bondurant and his family live in one of the handsomest residences in Cairo, and are iden- tified with the social life of the city. As a physician he enjoys the confi- dence of his patrons and the respect of the profession, and as a man he stands high in the community as a progressive, patriotic and law abiding citizen.
REV. JAMES GILLEN. It is a pleasure to the biographer to head this sketch with the name of the priest who is in every sense worthy of the distinction afforded by honorable mention among the nota- ble citizens of Cairo. Both of the flourishing Catholic churches there have been fortunate in having him for their pastor, as he was first located at St. Patrick's parish, and is at present the rector of St. Joseph's. Among the people of the community in general, as well as the parishioners, he is justly considered as a gentleman of large re- sources and unquestioned ability. To his efforts may be attributed the success which has come to the church in recent years, and he is at present engaged in erecting a parochial school which when com- pleted will be a magnificent edifice, one of the most modern and up-to- date structures of its kind in the State of Illinois. This fine Gothic school building is conveniently situated near the church and residence, and will for many years to come be a credit to the educational ad- vantages of the city. Rev. Father Gillen was born in Heisterberg, Feb. 23, 1861. His parents, John and Frances (Gross) Gillen, natives of Germany, emigrated to America in 1875 and settled near Toledo, O., where they still make their home. The subject of this sketch received the rudiments of his education in the parochial schools of his native place, and afterward entered St. Joseph's college at Cleveland, O.,
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where he remained five years. His literary training was subsequently continued at Teutopolis, Ill., where he improved his excellent educa- tional advantages to their fullest extent. On the completion of his studies at Teutopolis he took a philosophical course of two years at Montreal, Canada, and afterward went to Europe, commencing the study of theology at the North American college at Rome, where he graduated with high honors after a brilliant career of four years. Upon his return to the United States, he was ordained to the priest- hood at St. Francis., Wis., May 9, 1886, and on the 14th of the follow- ing month accepted the pastorate of St. Joseph's church at Lebanon. It was at this place that Father Gillen's executive ability so largely displayed itself, where, with about sixty-five families, he erected a beautiful church at a cost of $15,000. Fresh labors were thrust upon the young and zealous priest when he was transferred to Waterloo. After gaining the esteem and love of the entire community there, he was sent to Prairie du Rocher, where the people were for two years favored and encouraged by his presence and example. Three years ago he became stationed in the city of Cairo, the past year of which has been spent as pastor of St. Joseph's parish. This parish is among the largest and best in the diocese of Belleville, and is constantly in- creasing in importance and in the number of its communicants. Be- sides the 250 pupils on its school roll, there is also located in the parish St. Mary's infirmary, to which all classes of citizens are hastened for the relief of their bodily ailments, and which is unan- imously acknowledged to be an institution of which Catholics and non-Catholics are equally proud. Father Gillen is a very popular priest, a man of education and great energy, and to his untiring efforts is to be credited the fact that his congregation enjoys a steady numer- ical growth. He has devoted himself persistently to the task of raising the money necessary for the erection of the new $15,000 school, and his efforts have been rewarded with success. Although he speaks and is master of seven languages, personally he is one of the most modest and unassuming of men. He is of a kindly, pleasant address and sociable disposition. He is not only a priest among priests, but a man among men. As a public speaker, he is earnest, ready, and fascinating be- cause of the ever present touch of human kindness in his tone and manner. He has labored not for his own temporal advancement, but for the highest spiritual welfare of his parishioners, and it is not strange, therefore, that he is esteemed by each one as a personal friend.
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McKNIGHT-KEATON GROCERY COMPANY, of Cairo, Ill., wholesale dealers in groceries, fruits and produce, was organized and incorporated on Aug. 1, 1901, with a capital stock of $35,000. The company occupies a building 50 x 175 feet, four stories in height, that was erected especially for its accommodation, at the corner of Fourth and Ohio streets. Four salesmen are employed on the road, the trade extending to Southeastern Missouri, North- eastern Arkansas, Southern Illinois, and Western Kentucky and Tennessee. The officers of the company are C. L. Keaton, president and treasurer ; W. A. McKnight, vice-president; E. Bondurant, secre- tary. Though one of the youngest mercantile establishments of Cairo it is one of the most up-to-date concerns of its kind in the Lower Ohio valley. By modern methods of advertising it has come prominently into notice, with the result that its trade is constantly on the in- crease, and new territory is being added to its already large field.
Clarence L. Keaton, president of the company, was born at Bloom- field, Mo., March 27, 1874, his parents being C. L. and Sallie E. Keaton, natives of Carroll county, Tenn. His father is an attorney, now located at Dexter, Mo. After a common school education in the schools of Bloomfield Mr. Keaton came to Cairo in 1891, and for about ten years was employed by the New York store as a clerk and traveling salesman. When the McKnight-Keaton company was or- ganized he was elected president and treasurer and has held these of- fices ever since. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Com- mercial Travelers' organization and the Baptist church, to which his wife also belongs, and in politics is a Democrat. He was married on Dec. 27, 1899, to Miss Levie Bondurant (see sketch of Dr. A. A. Bondurant), and to this union there have been born two children, - Fern Bondurant and Clarence Alonzo.
W. A. McKnight, vice-president, was born Jan. 2, 1865, at Porter- field, Tenn., where his father, A. G. McKnight, is a prominent stock raiser. After attending Burritt college, Spencer, Tenn., he engaged in the retail grocery business in connection with Hodge, Smith & Co., of Murfreesboro, with whom he remained for eight years. He then went to Waxahachie, Tex., and traveled for a wholesale grocery house there for two years, after which he was with F. Smith & Son, of St. Louis, until 1901, when he became one of the organizers of the com- pany of which he is now vice-president. Mr. McKnight is a Demo- crat, a member of Ascalon Lodge, No. 51, Knights of Pythias, of Cairo, and belongs to the Royal Arcanum at Murfreesboro, Tenn On Dec. 19, 1900, he was united in marriage to Miss Edna Tucker,
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of Tucker, Ark., and they have one son, W. A., Jr., now in his fourth year. Mr. and Mrs. McKnight belong to the Presbyterian church, and are prominent in the social life of Cairo.
NEW YORK STORE MERCAN- TILE COMPANY, of Cairo, Ill., was first started in 1862, under the firm name of C. O. Patier & Co. In 1883 it was incorpo- rated as the New York Store Company, and in 1891 was reincorporated under its present name, with a capital stock of $30,- 000. The officers at the present time are Charles E. Hessian, president ; Charles O. Patier, vice-president ; John B. Greaney, secretary and treasurer. The company handles all kinds of merchandise ; occupies a building at the corner of Commercial avenue and Nineteenth street 100 x 125 feet, two stories high ; one on the opposite side of the street 125 x 160 feet ; covers territory in Ten- nessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois, and keeps four men constantly on the road as salesmen.
Charles E. Hessian, president of the company, was born at Mound City, Ill., Jan. 24, 1865, his parents being Timothy and Winifred Hessian, natives of Ireland. Timothy Hessian was a railroad man, and both himself and wife are now deceased. Of their seven chil- dren but two are now living: the subject of this sketch and Kath- erine, now a Mrs. Curran, of St. Louis. Charles E. Hessian came to Cairo in 1866, and entered the employ of the New York store as a cash boy Oct. 18, 1881. After two years in this capacity he was promoted to a clerkship, and in 1888 became a stockholder in the company. In June, 1891, he was made secretary; was elected vice-president in January, 1896, and since January, 1902, has been president of the company. Mr. Hessian and the business have thus grown up together, and with the growth of the company he has assumed new responsibilities, yet has never been found wanting in any of the essentials of the successful merchant and manager of a large business enterprise. The Cairo Bulletin recently said of him: "No man in the city occupies a more enviable position in the business and social circles than does he, and no man in the city is more worthy of the general esteem and confidence in which he is held by our people." Upon the death of Captain Patier, the founder of the
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business, Mr. Hessian was made one of the executors of the estate, an office he filled with signal ability and fidelity. He was married in April, 1892, to Miss Cecilia, daughter of James and Mary Greaney, of Cairo, and to this marriage there have been born the following children : William, died in infancy ; Edwin Patier ; Harold; Clarence, died at the age of three and a half years; Ralph; LeRoy, and Rose Mary. Mr. Hessian is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He and his family occupy a handsome residence on Twenty-first street, and he and his wife belong to the Catholic church.
JOHN H. ROBINSON, of Cairo, Ill., prominent in real es- tate circles and now city judge, was born in Chillicothe, O., May 31, 1833, his parents being John J. and Katie (Hutt) Robinson, both natives of Virginia. His grand- father, Thomas Robinson, came from Scotland when he was a young man, located in Virginia, and there passed his whole life. John J. Robinson learned the trade of baker, and after going to Chilli- cothe served for years as justice of the peace. In 1875 he removed to Springfield, Mo., where he died, a Republican in his political faith and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On the mater- nal side Judge Robinson is of English descent. His grandfather, Girard Hutt, came from England in the Colonial days and settled on the banks of the Potomac in Westmoreland county, Va. During the Revolutionary war he was driven from his home by Lord Corn- wallis, who used his residence as headquarters. He had a brother who was a member of the British Parliament. His son, John Hutt, the father of Judge Robinson's mother, was born Sept. 5, 1763. He enlisted in the American army at the age of fifteen years and served under General Nelson until the close of the war, being present at the siege and surrender of Yorktown. In a number of engagements he fought under Washington, was promoted to sergeant when only
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seventeen, and in 1781 was discharged as captain. In 1794 he was given a license to preach by Francis Asbury, the first bishop of the Methodist church to come to America. In 1801 he removed to Chil- licothe, and there passed the remainder of his life. Katie Hutt Rob- inson died at Springfield, Mo., in. 1898, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. For years she had been a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was the mother of eleven children, six of whom are still living. Judge John H. Robinson received a common school education, and learned the trade of cigar maker. For several years he worked at this occupation in Chillicothe and Zanes- ville, O., and New Orleans, La. In May, 1858, he came to Cairo, and after working at his trade there for a while he was appointed deputy sheriff. When the war broke out he left the sheriff's office, raised a company, of which he was made captain, and which was mustered in in 1862 as Company C, 130th Illinois infantry. He served as captain through the entire war, though during the last nine months he commanded the regiment, owing to the disability of the colonel. The regiment was at Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River, the siege of Vicksburg, and was with General Banks on the Red river expedition. After the war he returned to Cairo and was appointed chief of police. Later he held the position of superintendent of the land and levees of the city for nine years, part of which time he also served as justice of the peace. He next en- gaged in the cigar business for a time, but in 1882 was elected county judge, which office he held for twelve years. In 1896 he was elected to his present office of city judge, and since 1893 has been United States commissioner. Judge Robinson is one of the active Democrats of Cairo, is a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is one of the best known men, in the city. On March 17, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. Brunner, a native of Somerset, O., and a daughter of Jacob and Julia (Trout) Brunner, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland. To this marriage there were born two daughters: Kate B. was twice married and died leav- ing six children, and Florence N. died at the age of twenty-five years.
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JEFFERSON B. WARNER, manager for the house of John A. Haynes, whole- sale and retail grocer and dealer in steam- boat supplies, Cairo, Ill., is a descendant of the Pilgrims who came to America from England early in the seventeenth century. His grandfather, L. J. Warner, was. a Vermont farmer, and his father, Carle- ton Henry Warner, was born in the Green Mountain State. He married Aurora A. Batchelder in that state and in the early sixties went to Tama City, Iowa, where he worked for some time at his trade of blacksmith. Subsequently he went to Quincy, Ill., and from there to Cairo in 1882. Three years later he removed to Alton, Ill., where he still lives. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church; he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in politics is always independent. Jefferson is the third child in a family of five, three sons and two daughters, all married and living at the present time. He was born at Tama City, Oct. 7, 1864, and was the first white male child born, in that city. His early education was obtained in the common schools of Quincy while the family were living there, and at the age of fifteen years began his business career as a clerk in a cigar store. In November, 1882, he came with his parents to Cairo. The following year he entered the employ of Barclay Bros., wholesale druggists, as a bookkeeper, and remained with this firm until 1890. He was then employed for two years as assistant cashier in the East St. Louis freight office of the Mobile & Ohio railroad, and with the Newport News, now a part of the Illi- nois Central railroad system, at Memphis, Tenn. In July, 1892, he came back to Cairo, where he became associated with Capt. G. D .. Williamson, the then proprietor of the leading boat store of the city, with which he is still connected. (See sketch of C. C. Haynes.) Mr. Warner is a Democrat in his political convictions, though he can® hardly be called an active party worker. On Oct. 10, 1893, he was married to Miss Clara Bryant, daughter of the late Frank Bryant, an old-time lumber dealer of Cairo, and to this union there have- been born two sons: Kenneth B., aged ten and J. Howard, aged six years. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, in which he is one of the trustees.
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CLAUDE WINTER, mayor of Cairo, Ill., and member of the firm of Winter Bros., grocers and proprietors of the cold storage plant, was born in that city, May 30, 1858, his parents being Henry and Margaret Winter. His father was born in England, but came in early manhood with several of his brothers to America. He was a tinner by trade and soon after arriving in this country located at Cincin- nati, where he worked for a short time, after which he went to Cannelton, then came to Cairo and embarked in the tin and stove business. Later he was engaged in conducting a hotel. He was successful in his business ventures, but toward the close of his life met with financial reverses of a serious nature. He was largely instrumental in giving to Cairo a good fire department, being one of the old volunteer firemen. Both himself and wife were mem- bers of the Episcopal church. Their children were William, Jose- phine, Belle, Alfred E., Claude, Gus., Jessie, Jennie, Albert and Flora. Claude and Gus are twins, Jennie and Albert are deceased, and all those living reside in Cairo. The mother of these children died in 1902. Claude Winter attended the Cairo public schools until he was sixteen years of age, when he began his business life as clerk in the hotel. Later he was in the employ of John McNulty for about ten years in the hardware store, when he and his brothers William and Gus embarked in the grocery business. They started in a small building, but now occupy one of the most modern build- ings in the city, as well as one of the largest. The upper floor con- tains a large public hail. Gus withdrew from the firm after some time and the business is now conducted by Claude and William. Their ice manufacturing and cold storage establishment is one of the best equipped in the lower Ohio valley, and each year shows an increased volume of business in these lines. Mr. Winter is a Democrat and takes a keen interest in public affairs. He served two terms as alderman, where his record was so satisfactory that the people of Cairo called him to a higher position, and in 1903 he was elected mayor. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the K. and K. C., and the Alex- ander club. He was married in 1880 to Hannah, daughter of Wil- liam Gerrin, of Cairo. She died in 1901, the mother of the follow-
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ing children : Claude, Jr., Ethel, Josephine, one who died in infancy, William and Margaret. All received good educations, Claude spend- ing two years at Culver Military academy.
WILLIAM R. HALLIDAY, one of the leading contractors of Cairo, Ill., and proprietor of a large brick manufacturing plant, was born at Portland, Ky., now a part of the city of Louisville, June 30, 1859, his parents being Samuel B. and Elizabeth Halliday. The Hallidays are of Scotch descent, the first of the family in this coun- try coming from Scotland at a very early date. Samuel B. Halli- day removed with his family to Cairo about the time of the com- mencement of the Civil war, and engaged in the real estate business. He soon became prominent in the commercial life of the city as cashier of the City National bank, and was at one time a member of the firm of Halliday Bros. He died in September, 1868, and his wife in 1880. Both were members of the Episcopal church. Their children are Ada, wife of John Aisthorpe; William R., the subject of this sketch; Edwin C., president of the Cairo Hardware Company; Horace H., a prominent business man, of Cairo. William R. Halli- day was educated in the common schools and the Southern Ohio university, which institution he attended in 1878-79, but did not graduate. After leaving school he was in the employ of the American Express Company for about a year; was then with Halliday Bros. for a short time, after which he built a corn meal and feed mill, which he conducted for about four years under the name of W. R. Halliday & Co. He next formed a partnership with H. H. Halli- day for dealing in grain, hay and builders' supplies. About 1889 he commenced the manufacture of brick and soon afterward became in- terested in the business of contracting for the construction of build- ings, etc. His brick works have an annual capacity of about 20,000,000 brick, and during the busy season he employs about 125 men. In 1901 he again became associated with H. H. Halli- day in the organization of the H. H. Halliday Sand and Gravel Company, which dredges and washes the sand from the Ohio river, thus guaranteeing a clean sand, the resulting gravel being used for concrete work. The company is equipped with the steam dredge Virginia and a number of barges, the daily output being from twenty to twenty-five cars. Shipments have been made to various parts of the country, and contractors of heavy stone work, fine cement work, etc., have pronounced the sand far superior to that taken from gravel pits or natural sand-bars. Mr. Halliday still gives much of his atten-
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