S-T BIOGRAPHIES

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. 227-228.

James L. Sackett, farmer, P. O. Elco. Isaac Sacket, the grandfather of our subject, was born in England and came to this country some time before the Revolutionary War. He settled in Connecticut, and was a soldier in that war. In the same state, Isaac Sacket, Jr., the father of James L., was born in 1808, lived there until he reached manhood, and then married in 1827 Sophronia Richards, daughter of Charles Richards, whose forefathers were also of English descent. She was the mother of ten children, and of that number subject was the youngest, and was born December 20, 1831. When he was about nine years of age, his parents moved with him to Illinois and settled in Marine, Madison County. Subject received his education partially in the schools of Connecticut and also in the schools of Illinois. When about fifteen years old he commenced working at the carpenter's trade, and followed that vocation until about nineteen. At that age he undertook business for himself and commenced contracting for jobs. This vocation he followed for about six years, working at it in St. Louis, also in Monroe and St. Clair Counties. In 1860 he came to Alexander County, and first settled on Sandy Creek, but only remained there about three years, and then came to his present location in 1863. He first purchased a farm of fifty acres, and now owns abut 118 acres in Sections 18 and 19, Township 14, Range 1 west. He was married March 24, 1858 in Belleville, Ill., to Eliza Anson, daughter of Fred and Lucinda Anson. She is the mother of ten children, seven of whom are now living--Rosala, Montie, George R., Minnie, Clara, Mattie and Louis. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, Col. Bronson, Company F, Capt. Johnson, February 12, 1865 and was discharged May 29, 1865 on account of disability. In politics Mr. Sacket is a Republican.
(NOTE: J. L. Sackett died Jan. 1, 1899 and Eliza J. was born Oct. 8, 1838 and died May 3, 1929. Both are buried in the Hazelwood Cemetery, Alexander Co. Of their children also buried in Hazelwood Cemetery, Montie was born Sept. 16, 1866 and died Feb. 11, 1893; George R. was born Dec. 8, 1878 and died Mar. 17, 1918; and Mattie Jewell's stone reads, "ROSS, Mattie Jewell (Nee Sackett), The only lady R. R. telegrapher to operate a manuel interlocking plant." Mattie d. Jan. 15, 1919--Source: IL Statewide Death Index).

Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 234.

George Sammons, farmer, P. O. Thebes, was born in Jonesboro, Union County, Ill., March 10, 1826; is a son of John and Dicy (Whitelock) Sammons. He attended school at his native village, and labored for awhile with Seth Chandler in making fanning mills. At the age of twenty years, he left Jonesboro and went to Marion County, Ark., where he remained but a short time. In 1848 he settled at Goose Island, Alexander County, where he remained until 1865, and then located where he now resides, in Section 10. He was married January 12, 1844 to Susan James, born in October 1829, which union has resulted in four children, one only of whom survives--D. W. His wife died December 2, 1858 and he was subsequently married to Mrs. Emily Durham, the result being two children--Joel D., born September 18, 1868, and Emma, born August 6, 1870. In 1876 he was elected County Commissioner. He has served as a Justice of the Peace at Thebes for twenty-four years. Is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a Democrat.

J. H. SAMS, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. One of the oldest families that settled in Union County was that from which our subject springs. His grandfather, Thomas Sams, emigrated from Kentucky in an early day, and settled near Jonesboro, Union County, and there Nathan Sams, the father of J. H. was born in 1813. The father resided in that county until a young man, and then went to Butler County, Ky., where he married Melinda Elliott. In that State he did not remain long, but came from there to Union County, and settled about three miles from what is now Jonesboro. There subject was born November 7, 1844, the fifth of six children. His parents came to Alexander County when he was about two years old, and settled about two miles northeast of Clear Creek. Subject's education was received in this county, and he early commenced working on the home place. When twenty-one, he started out i life on a farm belonging to his father, in Union Precinct, Union County. There he resided only two years, and then came to his present residence. Here he first bought a farm of eighty acres in Section 8, Town 14, Range 3 west. He now has eighty acres more in same section, and twenty-three acres in Section 5, also fourty acres i Section 35, Town 13, Range 3 west, of Union County. Has 200 acres in culitvation. He was married May 8, 1866 to Eliza A. McClure, a daughter of Matthew and Eliza McClure. This lady was born September 28, 1847, and was the mother of two children--Clara, born September 15, 1869, and Clarence, born November 29, 1871. Mrs. Sams died March 13, 1883.
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.

James L. Sanders, farmer, P. O. East Cape Girardeau. One of the most extensive farmers of Alexander County is the gentleman whose name heads this brief sketch. His grandfather, John Sanders, was a native of Jefferson County, Tn., and there William Sanders, the father of subject, was born, grew to manhood's estate, and there married Maria Jane Thompson, daughter of Ephraim Thompson. The twain remained in their native State for a few years, and then moved to Jefferson County, Mo., where our subject was born November 13, 1834, the fifth of eleven children. The father, when subject was about twelve years old, came to this county and settled on the farm now owned by his son. The educational advantages of our subject were but limited, but he made the best of these. When his father died in 1860, Mr. Sanders, then in his twenty-sixth year, assumed charge of the place, and now has a farm of 560 acres, situated in Section 19, Range 3 west. Of the whole tract, about 530 acres are improved. There are also about five acres in orchard. Mr. Sanders was married the first time, March 4, 1869 to Miss Hattie B. Steward, daughter of Chester Steward of Cobden. One child, Albert Steward Sanders, who was born November 3, 1870, was the result of this union. This lady died November 14, 1870. He was married the second time, April 1, 1881, to Miss Virginia B. Tibbetts, daughter of Mrs. Martha Tibbets. She is the mother of one child, Helen, born February 20, 1883. In politics, Mr. Sanders is a Republican. Has served one term as County Commissioner; has also been Justice of the Peace.
--Source: History of Alexander, Union, Pulaski Counties, Illinois; Edited by William Henry Perrin, c1883, Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, East Cape Girardeau Precinct, p. 238-239.

W. O. SANDERS, farmer, P. O. East Cape Girardeau. John Sanders, the grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this brief sketch, was a native of Jefferson County, East Tenn., and there William Sanders, the father, was born, grew to manhood and married Miss Jane Thompson, a daughter of Ephraim Thompson. The father followed farming in that State until he was thirty years of age, and then moved to Jefferson County, Mo., and remained there about twelve years, and then came to Alexander County, and settled on the farm now owned by J. S. Sanders. There our subject was born July 17, 1849, attended school in his native county until he was seventeen, and then his father having died, he farmed the old homestead in connection with his brother, James. At the age of twenty-one, having married, he took part of the home place, and farmed it himself. There he remained until 1880, when he came to his present farm, a tract of fifty-two acres in Section 12, Town 14, Range 4 west. Mr. Sanders was married August 22, 1870 to Amanda J. West, daughter of Mrs. Nancy West. Mrs. Sanders was the mother of two children, Wilburn West, born January 12, 1872, and Clarence E., born September 2, 1871. This lady died February 6, 1876. He was married the second time, August 17, 1876, to Mrs. Ellen DeWitt, nee King, daughter of Capt. Ezra King. The result of this union was three children, one of whom is living--Gertrude, born January 13, 1882. In politics he is a Republican, and is now serving as Deputy Sheriff and Collector.
--Source: History of Alexander, Union, Pulaski Counties, Illinois; Edited by William Henry Perrin, c1883, Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, East Cape Girardeau Precinct, p. 239.

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.42.

William G. Sandusky, Captain of the Iron Mountain Railway Transfer (Julius Morgan), is a native of Fayette County, Penn. He is the oldest of a family of seven children of Albert G. Sandusky and Martha McClain, and was born August 4, 1846. The parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father of Scotch and English ancestry and the mother of Irish origin. The former is now living in his native State, at an advanced age. The mother was born in 1827, and died in 1865 at the old homestead in Fayette County. The father served as a soldier through the late war, being a member of a Pennsylvania cavalry regiment, with which he took part in several of the most decisive and hard-fought battles of the war, and during his service received but one wound. William G., when a mere child, manifested a strong inclination for a life on the water, which was as strongly discouraged by his father, resulting as is often the case, in a radical move on the part of the boy. He left home when eleven years old, and was that year (1857) in Cairo, but not to remain, and his experience for several years was a varied one, although he demonstrated his ability to take care of himself, which is an exception to the rule, with boys under similar circumstances. He spent considerable time in traveling in different parts of the South and West, thus gaining a practical idea of life while a mere boy. His first experience in boating was on the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, and on the Ohio, as far south as the city of Cincinnati. He was a regularly licensed pilot on those rivers before he had become of age, and has been thus employed ever since with slight exception. During the war he was in Government employ as pilot, principally on the Mississippi River. From 1868 to 1877, he was Captain of the steam ferry boats, "Missionary," "Cairo," and the "Three States," but in July of the latter year was appointed to the position of Master of Iron Mountain Transfer "Julius Morgan," which he still retains. He was married in Dubuque, Iowa to Miss Mary E. Deveren of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Their residence is Walnut Street, between Eleventh and Twelfth.

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.42.

Peter Saup, Cairo, Ill., was born in Dunkirk, N. Y., on the 18th of August, 1839. His father was a native of France, and came to the United States in 1816, being then sixteen years old. In 1833 he married Miss Elizabeth Smith, who was born in France in 1815. Her ancestors are characterized for longevity, the parents celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of their wedding in Mansfield, Ohio, where they died, the father at the advanced age of one hundred and thirteen years, and the mother at the age of ninety-nine years. Mr. Saup's father died in February 1860 at Zanesville, Ohio, where the mother is still living. Peter is the third of their family of ten children, three of whom are dead. He was educated in Zanesville, Ohio and learned the trade of cabinet-maker and wood-turner, which he followed for some years. He came from Zanesville, Ohio to Cairo, Ill., in 1860, where for sometime, he was employed in a planing mill. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B of the One Hundred and Forty-third Regiment, in which he served until they were mustered out. He then became a member of Company G, of the One Hundred and Ninety-third Ohio Regiment, from which he was discharged at the close of the war. In each of these organizations he held the office of Sergeant. In the winter of 1865 he returned to Cairo, Ill., which has been his home since. He has served the county as Sheriff one term, the city of the office of Councilman for several years, and is now one of the Board of County Commissioners. He was married in Cairo on the 17th of November 1872 to Miss Philomena Botto, a native of Italy, where she was born in 1840.

Edward A. Short was born May 8, 1821 in Delaware and died April 19, 1883 in Pulaski County, Illinois. He was buried in Hazelwood Cemetery, Alexander County, Illinois. Edward came to the Wetaug, Illinois area, and it was here that he met and married Mary Ann Nalley on July 25, 1850. She was the daughter of Walter and Sarah Garner Nalley. Edward and Mary Ann lived on a farm northwest of Ullin, Illinois. They had two daughters, Ann and Clara, and two sons, Sigmund and Edward "Ed." Ann Short married Lafayette "Lafe" Miller, and Clara married Adophus "Dolph" Brown. Sigmund "Sig" Short married Martha "Mattie" Brown. Ed Short married Maud Guild, daughter of James and Catheryn Sullivan Guild on September 8, 1895.
Ed Short was born February 15, 1872 and died September 21, 1950. He is buried in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery north of Wetaug. Ed and Maud continued to stay on the family farm and it was there they raised their seven children, Grace, Mayme, James, Van, John F., Hallie and Algie Jack. Grace Short married Fred Harift and had one daughter and one son. Mayme Short died young. James "Jim" Short never married. Van Short married Zula Miller and had two daughters and two sons. John F. Short married Ruth Knupp and their son is James M. Short. Hallie Short married Frieda Weir and had two daughters and two sons. Algie Jack Short was born November 12, 1911 and married August 11, 1959 to Ruby Lee Kerley, daughter of Quillen and Prudy Shufflebarger Kerley. Algie Jack and Ruby have one son, Kenneth Russell Short. He married June 8, 1974 to Shirley Mae Doty, daughter of Walter and Lucille Jetter Doty. Kenneth and Shirley have one son, Justin Daniel Short, and one daughter, Denise Ann Short.
The Edward A. and Mary Ann Nalley Short farm was still owned by the Short family in 1985.

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, pg. 228.

William Skiles, farmer, P.O. Elco, is a grandson of William Skiles, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, having come to this country some time before that conflict, and settled in Maryland. Soon after the war ended, he went to what is now Green County, Tenn., and there Henry Skiles, the father of our subject, was born. He remained there until manhood and then married Margaret Bunch, a daughter of Jonas Bunch, who was also a soldier in the Revolution, having come from England and settled in Virginia, and there the gentleman whose name heads this, was born October 20, 1835, being the third of eight children. He received his education in the schools of his county, then worked on the home place until settling near Springfield. In that State, he farmed until April, 1865, when he came to Union County, where he settled about six miles east of Jonesboro. In 1870 he purchased forty acres in Section 8, Town 14, Range 2 west in Alexander County. He now owns a farm of eighty acres, of which about half is improved. Subject was married April 7, 1858 to Mary Ann Gann, daughter of Allan and Sarah (Myers) Gann. the result of this union was thirteen children, seven of whom are living--William, born February 28, 1859; Amanda J., born March 18, 1862; James, born January 4, 1864; Henry, born January 22, 1867; Mary Ann, b. August 20, 1871; Thomas J., born February 20, 1872; Benjamin F., born February 28, 1874. Mr. Skiles is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in politics is a Democrat.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present, printed from Infoplease.com.

Thistlewood, Napoleon Bonaparte, a Representative from Illinois; born near Harrington, Kent County, Del., March 30, 1837; attended the public schools; moved to Mason, Ill., in 1858 and engaged inmercantile pursuits; enlisted in the Union Army in 1862; captain of Company C, Ninety-eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry; served in the Army of the Cumberland, in Wilder's brigade, and with Wilson's Cavalry Corps; returned to Mason and resumed business pursuits; moved to Cairo, Ill., and engaged in the commission business; mayor of Cairo, Ill., 1879-1883 and again 1897-1901; department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for Illinois in 1901; elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George W. Smith; reelected to the Sixty-first and Sixty-second Congresses and served from February 15, 1908, to March 3, 1913; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress; retired and was a resident of Cairo, Ill., until his death in that city September 15, 1915; interment in Beech Grove Cemetery, Mounds, Ill.

George Washington Thompson was born about 1845 in Alexander County, IL, son of William and Biddy Thompson. On January 20, 1865 at the age of 19 he joined Company E 60th Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers. He contracted typhoid fever while serving and spent several months in a hospital near Raleigh, NC and Portsmouth Grove, and on a hospital ship. This disease left him partially paralyzed on his right side.
On July 4, 1867 he was married to Lucinda Emiline Miller, daughter of Daniel Miller. They were married by Jacob Gear. She was from North Carolina. It was said that Lucinda came to Elco when she was 15 years old in a covered wagon crossing the Appalachian Mountains. Her father came a year later after his wife died. During the Civil War she had to cook for the North and the South and said she was scared to death.
George and Lucinda had the following children: L. A. Thompson, b. March 1869; M. A. Thompson, b. January 16, 1872; E. Thompson, b. Aug. 6, 1877; William Thompson, b. May 21, 1880; Oscar Otto Thompson, b. April 23, 1883; N. G. Thompson, b. Dec. 1, 1887; M. L. Thompson, b. Aug. 16, 1899; J. E. Thompson, b. June 15, 1893; and Sidney McKinley Thompson, b. May 18, 1896.
George died at his home in Elco on October 12, 1914 and is buried in the Hazelwood Cemetery. Lucinda "Aunt Cindy" was born in 1853 and died in 1938. She is buried in the Pentecost Cemetery in Elco.

OSCAR OTTO "DOC" THOMPSON

Written and contributed by J. C. McNelly

Oscar (Doc) Thompson, was born April 23rd. 1883, on the old Mozzelle Miller farm in the Delta area outside of Elco, Ill., to Civil War veteran, George Washington Thompson and Lucinda (Miller) Thompson. He first married Eva Sheffer, Aug. 2nd, 1906, the daughter of Henry Sheffer & Sarah (Jordan) Sheffer. They had two children:
Oreedis (Reedis), b. 1908; d. 1976?
Lester (Cotton), b. June 22nd, 1909 - d. Aug. 30th, 2002.

Eva died of blood poisoning, caused by self abortion. Oscar then married Nellie Mae Jackson. She was born March 7th, 1898 and died Jan. 3rd, 1973, the daughter of Roland & Judy Ann (Cox) Jackson. They were married Dec. 5th, 1912, and had 6 children:
George Chester (Check), b. Jan 28, 1915 – d.Jan 2, 2000, buried in Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado.
Lois Ilene, b. Jan. 31st, 1918 - d. April 21st, 2009
Bernice, dates unknown, died of chronic flu at about the age of two. Pop came in and found her dead on a pallet.
Verda Mae, b. Feb 17th 1920 – d. Jan. 23rd, 1996
Nancy Alberta, b. 1921; d. 1934.
Betty Jean, b. Aug. 26th 1921 – d. Sept. 16th, 2009.

Oscar was known as "Pop" by his children and grandchildren. Nellie was called "Mema" by some of her grandchildren and grandma by some. Oscar got his nickname, " Doc," when Dr. Lottman was going to amputate his son, Check's leg because of an infected sore. A small crowd of people had came to watch the amputation. Pop said to the Doctor, “Can’t you cut all the infection out, scrape the bone, and fill it with Iodine?” The Dr. said, “Ok, Doc.” It worked and saved Check’s leg. The name, "Doc" stuck with him the rest of his life.
Pop taught himself to count and make change. While in Stout’s store in Gale, Ill., he counted out change to pay for an item, a guy asked him where he learned to count like that and he told him that he taught himself. He worked as a timber buyer and could walk through the woods, tell you how much you had and what it was worth. He also worked as a dynamite man, blowing out stumps from Thebes to Gale when they were building State Highway Route 3. He was also a trapper, made moonshine, and retired from the railroad.
Some of the places where Pop lived were Elco, Ill., Hanging Rock at McClure, Ill., Thebes, Ill. and on the Diswood side of the Chain of Hills between Tamms and Diswood in a small log cabin. He said that’s where he killed his last wild turkey and said it weighed 44 pounds.
   When they lived in Delta, Pop ran a moonshine still. His son, Check, said that he was about 7 years old, but can remember when the revenue men were getting hot on his trail, he would go with Pop to relocate the still. He said Pop would carry it on his shoulder and every time he would take a step the still would make a thumping sound. He said although he was very young he still remembers that sound.
When Pop moved his family to Hanging Rock at McClure, he said the first night he set out his traps he caught 4 mink which he sold for $10.00 each. He had Bill Nash to make him two fifty gallon stills then hired Jock Hill to run them for him 24 hours a day. The road that ran through Hanging Rock was the old route #3 to Jonesboro, Ill. Their house set on the right side of the road and about 50 yards on up the road on the left, Pop built a dance hall and had a band every Fri. and Sat. night and sold his moonshine. While living and running his moonshine in Hanging Rock, he became bitter rivals with his first cousin, Logan Thompson. When I asked Pop why they were such enemies he said that he made better whiskey than Logan and could sell more in the area. One time Logan and his boys captured Pop and tied his hands behind him. He was put in the backseat of their car between the two boys. They pulled up to his wife standing by the road and he said, “I’ll see you later, Nellie.” She said she knew she would never see him again. On the way to the place where they were going to kill him, one of the boys got scared and untied his hands. When they stopped the car and got him out, he took off running. It was pitch dark and he ran into a barbed wire fence cutting his throat from one side to the other, hitting no vital veins, he carried that scar the rest of his life.
   Pop got word one time that Logan and his boys were coming to Hanging Rock to get him, so Pop and his boys Reedis and Cotton got on top of Hay Stack Rock, a big tall rock that goes to the top of the bluff and over looks the road. They all had rifles and were going to ambush Logan and his boys but they never showed up.
   Pop moved his family from Hanging Rock in 1925, he had all brand new farm equipment at the time and had to sell it to move. My Grandma said, “If you make money dishonest you’ll lose it every time.” My mother Lois said she was about 5 years old when the feud was going on and remembers being scared at all times.
   Pop was about 89 or 90 years old when I asked him why his whiskey was better than Logan’s, and he said he added a secret ingredient.   After a lot of persuading and telling him I wasn’t going to make whiskey, he finally told me that he added a coffee can of a secret ingredient per batch. I guess I’ll just keep that secret for him.
   Nellie died Jan 3rd, 1973 and is buried in the Rose Hill cemetery near Thebes, Ill. Oscar died, May15th, 1974 and is buried beside Nellie.