History of Massac County

Anthony Wayne Walker, son of Dr. James Walker and wife (nee Glass), was born near Rose Bud, Pope county, Illinois, March 22, 1859. His mother died when he was 6 years old and his father was in poor circumstances. The family became separated but Wayne remained with his father until he was ten years old, when his father remarried and Wayne was given a home near Dixon Springs, Pope county, where he lived until he was 20 and began life on his own account.

He saved enough money while working in a saw mill to pay for one year's schooling and then began to clerk for William King of Rose Bud, Illinois. After three years' service with Mr. King he was employed by J.W. McCoy & Son of Golconda, and later with J.C. Baker until 1886.

In 1886 he was defeated in the republican primary for the nomination for sheriff by only two votes. In 1894 he was elected assessor and treasurer and gave such satisfaction. That he was elected sheriff of Pope county in 1898. He is an influential republican.

When defeated for the nomination in 1886 he opened a hardware and implement store and his enterprise and business ability soon built up one of the leading stores in southern Illinois. This he sold on being elected sheriff. In 1886 he married Miss Nannie E. White. They have a commodious home on a beautiful hill in Golconda where with their children they are enjoying life.

The parents of our subject lived in Hardin county, Tennessee, when the war of the rebellion began. The father was for the union and his two oldest sons enlisted in the army of the blue. He was too old to be accepted but was so outspoken that he was compelled to "lay out," as it was then called, and finally with his family fled to Pope county, Illinois, for safety. After the war they returned to their southern home.

Tony R. Kerr, the youngest of ten children, was born in Hardin county, Tennessee, Dec. 24, 1861, and was brought by his parents to Pope county during that long and bloody struggle. He returned to Tennessee with them at the close of the war but after the death of his mother (1880) he returned to Pope county, laboring on the farm until November 3, 1886, when he married Miss Melissa Homberg and settled in Rose Bud. Three boys and one girl have blessed this union.

In 1889 he was appointed treasurer of township 14, range 6, Pope county, and elected clerk of road district No. 6, Pope county, in 1890, and re-elected in 1893. Harrington Clanahan, circuit clerk of Pope county, was appointed his chief clerk by James A. Rose, secretary of state, in 1896, and Mr. Kerr was elected to fill the vacancy. He was re-elected in 1900, running ahead of every candidate on the ticket.

Mr. Kerr is a model officer, kind affable and competent. He and Mrs. Kerr are communicants of the Baptist church and have many friends.

George Hodge, the grandfather, was born in North Carolina and removed to Illinois in an early day. William S. Hodge, son of the above, was born in Illinois and his wife, Miss Harriet Taylor was born in Indiana.

The father, William S. Hodge, was a leading farmer, served through the Mexican and civil wars, was corporal in the Mexican war, and was with the detachment that captured Santa Anna. During the civil war he was captain of company E, 120th Illinois infantry. He was severely wounded and also spent six months in Libby prison, the confederate "hell-hole." Returning to his home in Pope county he was twice elected assessor and treasurer and several times sheriff. January 8, 1884, he died on his farm, honored by his neighbors.

John H. Hodge, son of William Hodge, was born on his father's farm December 18, 1861, labored thereon attended the rural schools and the city schools of Golconda. In 1889 he attended the State normal university at Carbondale, Illinois, one term, returned to begin teaching, which profession he has continuously followed with marked success, gradually and surely rising until in 1898 he was nominated and elected County Superintendent of Public Instruction by the Republican party of which he has always been a zealous supporter and valuable member. He is quietly and efficiently administering the duties of his office with marked ability and effect.

March 30, 1886, Mr. Hodge and Miss Melissa Steagall were married. She was born in Tennessee September 29, 1862, and came with her parents to Pope county. They are both communicants of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Hodge is fraternally a Mason. They live in Golconda, Illinois.

In November 1900, he was elected president of the Teachers' Association, which embraces four contiguous counties.

Joseph Lay was born in Johnson county, Illinois, Jan. 1, 1862. Being the son of Moses and Mahala E. Lay, who came to this state from Tennessee in the first settling up of Illinois and entered land from the government known as the Bit Act. Moses Lay, father of Joseph, died at the old homestead in 1870 and left surviving him his widow and six minor children, Joseph being the third child, 9 years old at his father's death.

Being reared by his mother at the old homestead, he tilled the soil during the summer and attended the free schools during the winter until he obtained a fair common school education. After reaching his majority not being satisfied with a common school education and desiring to acquire a commercial education, he entered Ewing college in the spring of 1883, and after a thorough course in said institution he was awarded a diploma conferring a degree of Master of Accounts. Returning home in the fall of 1883, not being satisfied with his knowledge of bookkeeping, he entered Bryant & Stratton Commercial School at Evansville, Ind.; after a thorough course in said institution he was examined and awarded a diploma conferring upon him the degree of Master of Accounts by said institution. On returning home he accepted a position as bookkeeper and clerk with the firm of Caldwell & Son, of New Burnsides, Ills. He gave them entire satisfaction and remained until said firm was sold out and retired from business. After this time he returned home and occupied the old homestead, continued farming until the spring of 1885. On March 28, 1885, he was married to Rilda B. Chester, daughter of N.E. Chester of Johnson county, after which he purchased a farm of 170 acres in Pope county known as the "Sampson Robinson farm," situated in township 11, range 5 East, and has continued farming ever since, making a fair success at the business.

The home of Joseph and Rilda B. Lay has been blessed with seven children, five boys and two girls, Harry, born Feb. 12, 1887; Lula, born Feb. 5, 1889; Coy, born Jan. 29, 1891; Mollie, born Jan. 2, 1893; Chester, born Feb. 8, 1895; Ewell, born Feb. 2, 1897, and Joe, born April 17, 1899, all of whom are still living except Lula, who died at the age of 2 years ago.

In the spring of 1898, being desirous of seeking a new field, he came to the conclusion that he would like to be county clerk of Pope county, and decided to make the race on the republican ticket, of which he is a true blue. After a hard fight for the place he was nominated by 60 majority over his opponent and was elected in November, 1898, to the office to which he aspired. He took charge of said office Dec. 5, 1898, for a term of four years, and is managing the office with ability and success.