L-M-N BIOS

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Thebes Precinct, p. 231.

Judge Levi L. Lightner, deceased. Probably no one of the early settlers of Alexander County has done more for the good of the county or taken a deeper interest in the welfare of this section than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Judge Lightner was born in Lancaster, Penn., December 15, 1793, and received his education in the schools of that city. At the age of twenty-one, he left the parental roof, and came down the Ohio on the first steamboat that ever came to Cairo. He landed in that town. The looks of the place not striking him very favorably, he went in a short time to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he engaged in the mercantile business, and there remained until about 1835, when he came to Clear Creek, Alexander County, where he ran a saw mill and was engaged extensively in farming. In 1844, when the county of Pulaski was taken off and the capital moved to Thebes, our subject moved to that place also, and was elected the first county judge after the new county was made. In the following ten years or more, he served his county in various positions, such as Justice of the Peace, School Commissioner, County Clerk and Probate Judge. When in 1859 the seat of justice was moved to Cairo, the Judge not liking the change, resigned his numerous offices and decided to give his help to the town that he had chosen for his residence. In 1860, he was, however, appointed to the office of Receiver of Public Entry for Cairo, and went there to assume his position. This he held until 1862, when, his health failing, he returned to his former home in Thebes. Judge Lightner was married three times. First to a Miss Lizzie Goodouer, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., who was the mother of five children, one only of whom is living--Louise, wife of Washington McRaven of Clear Creek Precinct. His second wife was a Mrs. Eleanor DeShay, the former wife of ex-Gov. DeShay of Ky. This lady was the mother of two children, one only, Shelby, now living, who is engaged in business in Cairo. He was married the third time to Mrs. Susan E. Wilkinson, November 2, 1848. She was born in Todd County, Ky., and is a daughter of James and Mary Mansfield. This lady is the mother of five living children--Julia, wife of Morrison Breeze of Pinckneyville, Perry County; James, now in business in Barnard, Alexander County; Eugenia, wife of Albert Brown of Thebes Precinct; William, now farming in same Precinct; and Lilly L., at home with her mother, and now one of the most successful teachers in the county. Judge Lightner was a member of the Cape Girardeau, Mo., A.F. & A. M. Lodge, and of the Lutheran Church. After his return to Thebes, the Judge's health continued to fail until his death, which occurred on November 17, 1869. His widow is now living at home in Thebes, and owns an excellent farm of 320 acres in Section 12, Township 15, Range 3.

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Elco Precinct, p. 224-225.

A. J. Lolless, farmer, P. O. Elco. Benjamin Lolless, the grandfather of subject, was born in Virginia, and his son, Benjamin Lolless, Jr., the father of A. J. Lolless, was also born there, and went to Tennessee when a young man, where he married Betsey Ann Berndrum, daughter of Clayborn Berndrum, also a native of Virginia. She was the mother of sixteen children, and of that number, subject was the ninth, and was born March 30, 1833. When subject was seven years old, he moved with his father to Alabama, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age, when he left that State and went to Western Tennessee, having in the meantime attended school but slightly. Here he remained until about twenty, and then came with his father to this State, settling first in Williamson County, where the father died in 1875 at the advanced age of ninety-two. Our subject remained in Williamson County the first year he was in the state, and then came to this county, where he worked for numerous farmers in Clear Creek Precinct. After his marriage he commenced life on his own account on a rented farm near Clear Creek. He rented one or two other farms in succession, and in 1876 he purchased his present location of 160 acres, in Section 20, Town 14, Range 1 west, of which about seventy are now in cultivation. Mr. Lolless wa married the first time to Fannie Walker, daughter of John Walker, of Clear Creek Precinct. This lady died one year after her marriage, leaving a little one, who, too, soon followed her to the other shore. The second time, he married to Amanda Langley, daughter of Mrs. Mary A. Phillips, nee Langley. She is the mother of ten children, all living--Mary Alice, Franklin, Virginia, Craig, Edward, William, Ulysses, Florence, Thomas and Luella. Mr. Lolless was a soldier in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and in politics is a Democrat. (Note: Andrew J. Lolless is buried in the Phillips Cem.)

The Marchildon’s family first recorded history begins about 1674 in a small town south of Paris, France. Vincent Marchelidon was born in this year and was married in 1714 in St-Pierre-de-Maille, France to Madeline Morin. At this time the name was spelled differently but was changed when arriving in the new country. Vincent was followed by René who was born in 1710 at St-Phele, France. René was married to Jeanne Fromenteau at Ste-Geneveive-de-Batiscon, Quebec in 1739. Sometime between 1710 and 1739, René emigrated from France to Quebec. René was followed by Joseph-Charles who was followed by Louise who was followed by Severe. All of these families lived in Ste-Geneveive-de -Batiscon, Quebec.
SEVERE MARCHILDON was born August 3, 1816, in Ste-Genevieve de Batiscan, Quebec Canada, which is about 60 miles from Quebec City, on the St Lawrence River. When he was about fourteen years of age, he went to Quebec City, where, after serving a clerkship for five years, he became a partner in one of the largest stores in Quebec. On May 10, 1842 he married Miss Emily Tessier. They had seven children. In 1859, Severe’s general store burned and his wife died in the fire. He emigrated to the U. S. with three of his children; Marie Odile, Eugene, and Cyril. They settled in Thebes, Illinois. He married again on October 1, 1862, to Miranda Massey Dexter.    Marie Odile married J. G. Rolwing of Thebes, and had seven children. Eugene married J. Culley, of Clear Creek Landing, and had eight children.
Severe established a general merchandise store in Thebes. When Cyril became of age, he entered the timber business which flourished and soon it became part of his father’s store.
Cyril was born June 15, 1850 in Ste-Genevieve de Batiscan, Quebec, Canada; married Mattie Warwick, of Oxford Ohio. They had three children; John, Beatrice, and Holly. Cyril died in 1920 in Thebes and is buried there. John married Francis Gerber from Charleston, Missouri and became a doctor in St. Louis, Missouri. Beatrice married Henry Rolwing from Thebes.
    Cyril became a pillar in the Thebes community. He operated the general merchandise store and the timber business. He accumulated large acreages of land and was postmaster for a period of time. About 1890, Cyril formed a partnership with Holly and Henry Rowling, his son-in-law. This endeavor formed the firm of Marchildon, Rowling, and Company. The partnership operated a general merchandise store and a funeral home. They were also timber buyers, farmers, and private bankers. (See picture of store.)
Cyril also formed a partnership with J. Culley, his brother-in-law, to form the firm of Culley and Marchildon. They operated a general merchandise store in Wheatland, Illinois (the former name of McClure, Illinois). Both partnerships flourished for many years until they declined because of floods, droughts, and especially the great depression.
Holly Marchildon was born October 9, 1872 in Oxford, Ohio. Holly married Emma Roeser 28 Nov 1901 of St. Louis, Missouri. They had Clement, Lester (Polly), Frank, Virginia, and Holly, Jr. Holly died 27 Nov 1965 in Thebes and is buried there. Emma Roeser Marchildon was born 02 Feb 1875 in St. Louis, Mo and died. 03 Dec 1963 in St. Louis. She is buried in Thebes. He was very active in the Thebes community. He was elected mayor of Thebes for two terms. He served as postmaster, agent for Eagle Pocket Company, president of Alexander County Farmers and Teachers Institute, and served on the school board. He and Emma believed in educating their children and made sure that all of them went to college. Holly and Emma were grandparents of the author of this scatch.
Clement was born 09 Oct 1902 in St. Louis and graduated from college and became a certified public accountant.  Clement married Joe Katherine Kuykendall, who was from Cairo, Illinois, on November 19, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri. They had three children; Clement (C.A.), Margaret (Peggy), and Patricia (Pat). Clement and Joe K. were divorced in 1935 and he married Lorena Bagley, of West Frankfort, Illinois. They had two children; Michael and Angela. Clement moved to West Frankfort in 1947 and established a CPA office. Clement died 29 Dec 1983 in West Frankfort and is buried there. Joe Katherine Kuykendall Marchildon was born 17 Aug 1906 in Cairo, Ill. and died 26 Nov 1981 in Belleville, Ill. She is buried in Mounds, Ill.
Lester (Polly) was born in 1904. Lester married Virginia Woods, of Mounds, Illinois. They had three children; Carol Ann, Donald, and Charlotte. Lester graduated from college and became a mortician.
Frank was born in 1909. He married Teresa Butcher, of Thebes, Illinois and they had one child, Joan. Frank graduated with a teaching degree.
Virginia was born in 1912 and married Harold Long, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. They didn’t have any children. Her death date is unknown. Virginia graduated with a business degree and became a bookkeeper.
Holly (Junior) was born in 1915. He graduated from college with a teaching degree. He married Lyndale Swan, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. They had four children; Jerry, Judith, Janet, and Richard. After Lyndale died, he married Georgia Tenkhoff, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His death date is unknown.
Of the three children that Clement and Joe Katherine had, Clement (CA) married Verda Lucas, from New Orleans, Louisanna. We had six children; Kevin. Mary Jo, Suzanne, Kimberly, Joan, and Nancy.
Margaret (Peggy) married Royce LaMarr, from Metroplis, Illinois. They had five children; Royce, Jerry, Kathy, David, and John. Margaret was born 21 April 1930 in Cairo, Ill. and died 31 March 1982 in Cairo; buried in Mounds, Ill.
Patricia (Pat) married Norman Waterman, from McClure, Illinois. They had four children; Norman, Jr., Kay, Jan, and Pam.

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Clear Creek Precinct, pg. 244.

Mrs. Caroline V. McClure, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. Our subject was a daughter of A. H. and Susan Overbay, and was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., July 29, 1833. Her parents came to this county when she was about eight years of age, and settled at Cairo, where the father carried on a general store. Here she received the rudiments of her education, going until she was sixteen years of age. Thomas J. McClure was born in Boonville, Mo., September 8, 1823, a son of James McClure, a farmer and stockraiser of that county. In his youth he attended school some, but left his father when about sixteen to start for himself, and went to New Orleans, where he remained about two years, as wharf clerk. He then came to this county, and worked first for Matthew McClure, his uncle. After working there for about three years he started for himself, and rented a farm of twenty acres, and there "bached it" for about two years. Improving his circumstances slightly, he wedded Miss Polly Phillips in the spring of 1847. This lady was the mother of two children, both of whom are dead: the eldest, Mary, was born October 24, 1851, and was the wife of Mr. C. L. Otrich of Anna. She died March 11, 1880. Mr. McClure was married the second time, to our subject, February 24, 1853. The farm then contained about 300 acres, and the homestead was about seven miles from the present location, to which they removed in June, 1853. That farm originally contained 120 acres, which has since been increased to 1,700 acres, most of which lies in Sections 10, 14 and 15, Town 14, Range 3 west. There are at present about 1,100 acres under cultivation. Mrs. McClure is the mother of six children--Logan, born September 27, 1854, died November 19, 1854; Virginia, born February 23, 1856, wife of A. J. Findley, of Clear Creek; Henry C., born April 28, 1858 and drowned in Clear Creek, Agust 30, 1879; Caroline, born October 18, 1861; James T., born November 8, 1864, and Claude, born February 5, 1871. In 1854 Mr. McClure went to Thebes, where he devoted his attention to the mercantile business in connection with Mr. A. H. Overbey. He remained thee about twelve years, and then returned to his farm at Thebes. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He died Wednesday, August 23, 1882, and was buried in the cemetery near his home. Since her husband's death, Mrs. McClure has carried on the farm, assisted by her son, James T.

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Elco Precinct, p. 225.

James E. McCrite, farmer, P. O. Elco. James McCrite, the grandfather of our subject, came from Ireland and located in South Carolina, where he married Margaret Anderson, also a native of Ireland, coming to this country when a little girl. There John McCrite, the father of James E., was born June 17, 1778. This gentleman lived in that State some years, and then removed with his parents to Georgia, where he married a Miss Jane Callohon, a daughter of Edward and Polly Callahon; the father was a native of Ireland, coming to his country when a young man, and the mother was a native of New Jersey. By this union, there were seven children,four of whom are now living, and of this number our subject was the eldest, and was born March 22, 1813 in Jackson County, GA. In 1814 his father moved to Murray County, Tenn., where he remained until October 1829, when he came to Union County, settling near what is now Mt. Pleasant. At that place he only remained a year and came to Alexander County, where he settled on Sandy Creek, about seven miles from what is now Elco Station. Our subject was now about seventeen years old and had until this time, probably attended school at the old subscription schools, altogether, about five months. After his arrival in this county, he attended school exactly eleven days. This was the extent of his learning in the schoolhouse, and he is truly what can be called a self-made man. Most of his learning was obtained after he had reached manhood, by the light of the fireplace after night. He remained most of the time at the home place until 1836, working at odd jobs for the neighbors at wood-chopping, rail-splitting, etc. In the fall of 1837, he located on his first farm of 480 acres of which eighty acres are improved. Mr. McCrite wa married, September 29, 1836 to Miss Edna Baughn, daughter of Reuben and Nancy Baughn,both natives of Tennessee. She was born September 15, 1815 and was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are now living--Reuben V., Joseph L., Robert W., Nancy J. (wife of John A. Morris), Polly I. (wife of R. B. Wilson), Margaret A. (wife of George W. Vick), and Martha J. (wife of Jesse G. Wilson). This lady died April 15, 1872 and subject was married April 8, 1874 to Mrs. Mary E. Miles, who was born May 12, 1829 and is a daughter of John and Nancy Jones, both natives of North Carolina, but raised in Kentucky. In politics our subject is a Democrat, and he has served his county faithfully in numerous capacities. In his time he has been Justice of the Peace, being elected to this office first in 1841 and serving continually until November 1881. He was appointed Township Treasurer in 1846 and served in that office for a number of years. He was elected Associate Justice of the Peace in 1852, first to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Silas Dexter; was elected the next term, and served for sixteen consecutive years, retiring in 1873, and he has also served his district as School Commissioner for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. McCrite are both members of the Missionary Baptist Church that holds its services on Sandy Creek. Mr. McCrite is a member of the Jonesboro Lodge.

Issac Milton McEnelly, known as "Mit," was a big man. He was 6 foot 2 inches and weighed 210 pounds when he entered the Civil War. (See Civil War record.) He was born about 1840-41. Issac first married Sara Butts. They had four children: Nancy, b. 1862; Cebrum (Seab), b. 1866; Ed, b. 1868; Dennis, b. 1872; and Sara, b. 1877.
Issac, it was told, moved around quite a bit because of getting into fights. When he was 70 years old, he was at a bar in Thebes when he got into an argument with a young man over the Civil War. Mit hung his cane on the bar and went outside and fought the younger man. They were not outside very long when Mit returned. The younger man did not come back in. Jim Hale, his stepson, said that Mit had a fist the size of a half loaf of bread.
Issac's second marriage was to Lucinda Bolen Hale. They had six children: Becky, b. 1880; Gerty, b. ?1881; Archebold, b. 1882; Thomas Jefferson, b. 1883; Minnie, b. 1894; and Lula, b. 1895. Lucinda was born in Tennessee in 1840. Her father, James L. Bolen, was born in Tennessee in 1820. Her mother's name was Mary. Mary was born in North Carolina in 1822. James and Mary had 11 children with Lucinda being the oldest. Lucinda was first married to a Civil War soldier, whom she had children by and left with a Robert Hamilton as a guardian. Hamilton lived in Marion, IL. Her second marriage was to John Hale. She told that he left her and she never heard from him for seven years and then that he had died. They had one child, James Hale. Her third marriage was to Issac McEnelly in 1878. Issac died September 5, 1899 and is buried in the Old Thebes Cemetery. Lucinda married for the fourth time to Henry Malone. They had no children. She died January 2, 1922 and is buried in the Hutchenson Cemetery, south of Gale.

S. A. MC GEE

S. A. McGee, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. The father of our subject was A. N. McGee, a native of Kentucky, and born in 1822. He came with his parents when young to Pulaski County, this State. In that county the father remained until sixteen. Being of a roving disposition, he started out in life, and followed for some time whatever his inclination led him. He finally drifted into the practice of medicine, and settled down in Mexico, Adrian Co., Mo., where he married Sarah J. Burns, a daughter of Richard Burns, a native of Virginia. Here subject was born March 9, 1847. The father, soon after our subject was born, went to Putnam County, Mo., and he represented that county two terms in the Missouri Legislature. Our subject received his education from the schools of Unionville, that county. When about fifteen, his mother having died, he commenced working out by the day for farmers. In 1864 he began life for himself in this county, on a farm which he rented from Pilgrim McRaven. In 1872 he purchased his present place, a farm of eighty acres, in Section 7, Town 14, Range 3, west. Mr. McGee was married August 10, 1868 to Eliza Giles, daughter of Alfred Giles, of Clear Creek Precinct. She is the mother of one child, Alfred W., born December 6, 1870. He enlisted in the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, Maj. Carmichael, Company H, Capt. Ezra King, on December 6, 1863, and was honorably discharged in June, 1864.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, East Cape Girardeau Precinct, p. 238.

Contributed by Mary Taylor from "The History of Southeast Missouri," Goodspeed, 1880, p. 839, Bollinger County, MO. Mr. McManus grew up in Cairo, IL.

John P. McManus, a progressive young farmer of Lorance Township, Bollinger County, Mo., was born in Liverpool, (Lancaster Co., Northwest England) England in 1852, and is the son of Patrick and Ann (Riley) McManus. The Patrick McManus family immigrated to America in 1854 and located in Philadelphia, where they resided several years. Patrick was a sailor, and made two trips back to the old country after locating in Philadelphia (likely Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania). The Riley family, to whom he was related, started west to find them a home, and being wagon makers by trade, would stop at different towns on the route and work at their trade, thus paying their traveling expenses. They stopped at Keokuk, Iowa, where Patrick McManus engaged on a steamer plying between that port and St. Louis. While making one of these trips, he was drowned. His family remained in Philadelphia two years after his death, when in the summer of 1859, they came to Missouri. There were four children, three of whom, Charles (who married Alice McGee), Margaret (deceased wife of William Nelson, also deceased), and John P., were born in Liverpool. Mary A., the youngest child, now the wife of Willard Caveness, was born in Philadelphia in 1856. She now resides in Hopkins County, Ky., and her mother makes her home with her.
John P. grew to manhood in Cairo, Ill., where for several years, he attended school. His brother and the Rileys also made that city their home during the war. In 1867 John P. came back to Bollinger County and farmed a few years on land entered by his mother. His marriage with Miss Mattie Liley was celebrated in 1871. The latter is a daughter of Maston Liley, an old resident of Bollinger County. Soon after his marriage, Mr. McManus purchased a tract of woodland, upon which he erected a nice little house and built commodious out-buildings. He has made it a model farm, one of the prettiest in this vicinity. Everything about it betokens thrift, enterprise and pride. Mr. McManus has a good practical education, and has done a great deal of surveying in his county. For the past eleven years, he has served as clerk of Lorance Township. He and wife have three bright children, Harry, Maggie and Mollie. Mr. McManus has studied medicine for over five years, and has one of the finest libraries in the county.

Pilgrim McRaven, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. One of the leading farmers in Clear Creek Precinct is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Benjamin McRaven, the father, was a native of North Carolina, and lived there until he reached manhood, and then came to Tennessee, where he married Millie Vick. Soon after his marriage, he came to Illinois and settled in Dongola Precinct, Union County, being one of the earliest settlers in that section. The subject was born October 15, 1830. His father came to Alexander County when subject was about seven years old, first settling about four miles northeast of Clear Creek; then four years after, he came to the farm now occupied by subject, where he lived until his death in 1845. Subject received his education in the subscription schools of his county. After his father's death, he remained on the farm with his mother until 1849, when she died. He then took charge of the place himself. It was first a farm of sixty-six acres in Section 9. This has been increased since by ninety-four acres in same section, 120 acres in Section 16, 320 acres in Section 15, 165 acres in Section 25, and fourty acres in Section 26. Of this about 350 are cleared. He also pays some attention to the raising of fine stock. Subject was married in 1851 to Elizabeth N. Phillips, of Alexander County. She is the mother of eight living children--P. H., J. S., Thomas W., Nellie Jane, Luella, Benjamin, Elmer E., and Mary. In politics Mr. McRaven is a Republican, voting that ticket first in 1865.

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 232-233.

James Miller, farmer, P. O. Thebes, was born February 2, 1843 in Alexander County; is a son of Moses and Matilda Miller, who were among the earliest settlers in this county, coming from North Carolina. Our subject's education was but slight, and was received in the county schools. His father having died when he was ten years of age, he was early compelled to lend a helping hand on the farm. Upon reaching manhood, he inherited his share of the home farm, and has since then purchased the remainder, and now owns a tract of 200 acres in Section 14, Township 15, Range 3. He has about ninety-five acres in cultivation, and about five acres in orchard. Mr. Miller was married in January 1867 to Mary Clutts, a daughter of John Clutts and Eliza Clutts. As yet no children have come to bless their union. Our subject enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Rareden, Company B, Capt. G. B. Mc Kinsey on August 12, 1861, and was discharged in September 1865. In politics, he is a Republican. His mother is still living and is staying at the old homestead.

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 232.

John Miller, farmer, P. O. Thebes, was born in Alexander County August 5, 1839; is a son of Peter and Catharine Miller, who died when he was nine years old. Young Miller was therefore thrown out on life's sea to battle for himself. He applied himself at anything he could get to do, for different persons. At the age of fifteen years, he began learning the trade of a lumber sawyer, with H. S. & E. E. Walbridge, with whom he remained until reaching his majority. In 1876, he began merchandising in the country, and subsequently removed to Oran, Scott County, MO., where he continued the mercantile business and also engaged in a saw mill, and in a short time lost both enterprises by fire. Mr. Miller then went to Dallas, Texas, but not liking the country he returned to St. Louis, and thence to Cairo, where he acted as lumber agent for some time. He subsequently located in Jefferson County, Mo., and in 1881 he came to Thebes Precinct, Alexander County, where he purchased ten lots, which he cultivates. He is head sawyer for M. & A. Brown. He was married March 1, 1866 at Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Miss S. S. Hancock, a daughter of Henderson and Rebecca Hancock, natives of Kentucky. She was born September 29, 1846. She is a member of the Baptist Church at Thebes. He is a Republican and a member of the Villa Ridge Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Cairo Precinct, p. 33.

Peter Neff, retired, Cairo, was born on the 18th of July 1826 in the kingdom of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. His parents, Bernhard Neff and Barbara Boehm, were natives of same place and reared a family of six sons, Peter being the youngest. The family have been represented in the United States by the three sons, Adam, George A. and Peter; the former died in Cairo, Illinois in 1867, leaving a family consisting of a wife and two daughters, who are now residents of Cairo. George A. is a resident of St. Louis, Mo. The subject of these lines was reared and educated in the old country, where he learned the trade of merchant tailor. He came to the United States in 1847, and that year located in the city of St. Louis, where for four years he worked at his trade. In September 1851 he removed to Jonesboro, Illinois, where he made his first independent business venture in the way of small stock of clothing. He remained in Jonesboro until 1854 (spring) at which time he removed his stock to Cairo, where he has since lived. Here he soon merged into an extensive trade in clothing and furnishing goods, and for many years enjoyed an immense patronage. In 1878 he sold his entire stock of clothing to A. Marx, but continued in the tailoring business until 1881, when he retired. He has erected several business houses and controls a large interest in city real estate. At present he is Vice President of the Alexander County Bank. He has a family of four children, of whom one is deceased, those living being: Calvin, Alexander W. and Effie Neff. The maiden name of his present wife was Rachel Lence, who was born at Jonesboro in 1841. (Note: Peter Neff died Dec. 28, 1893.)

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Unity Precinct, p. 242.

Dr. John I. Nowotny, physician and druggist, Hodge's Park, was born in the city of New York July 4, 1833, and is a son of John I. and Eliza (Haskett) Nowotny. The father was a native of Prague, and the mother was a native of South Carolina, but of Irish descent. The father died when subject was but six years old, and he early became able to take care of himself. He followed a roving disposition. When quite a boy, he came West and worked on a farm in Warren County, Ohio. In 1847, however, he went back to New York and entered a drug store, where he soon leaned the trade of a prescription clerk. He followed that vocation in several states, and finally, in 1857, he graduated from the Keokuk (Iowa) Medical College, and commenced his practice in Southern Illinois. In 1871 he came to Illinois and settled at what is now known as Beech Ridge, Alexander County. He cut the first stick of timber in that section of the country and besides following his profession, farming occupied a good deal of his attention. In this region, he practiced medicine until 1880, and then went to Minnesota, where he intended to settle down as a farmer. Becoming dissatisfied with the climate, he took a trip West and finally in June 1883, he came to Illinois again and settled at Hodges Park, where he purchased the drug store of W. W. Ireland. He will also practice his profession there. Mr. Nowotny was married in Brown County, Ohio May 22, 1856 to Miss Harriet Wall, a daughter of Major William Wall, (a soldier of the Mexican War) and Elizabeth (Thompson) Wall, a native of New Jersey. She was the mother of four sons-William W. (now in Cairo with the Express Company), Charles (now a farmer in Dakota), John(working for the Commercial Electric Light Company of Cincinnati), and Harry (now assisting his father in the drug store). This lady died April 17, 1876, and he was married on February 14, 1880 to Miss Mary Hodges, a daughter of John Hodges, of Unity Precinct. He enlisted in the 37th Indiana Volunteer Infantry in September 1861 and was out six months. He is a member of Allensville Lodge, No. 81, A. F. & A. M. and a Democrat in politics. (Note: Dr. Nowotny died Jan. 15, 1886 and is buried in the Unity Cemetery.)