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Life Sketches
Jacob W. Fry is the son of Henry Fry, descendant of the good old Pennsylvania German stock. His mother was Esther Kinser, also of Pennsylvania. While married they lived in Green county, Tennessee, where August 22, 1833, their son Jacob was born.
In 1843 they moved to Johnson county, Ill., locating three miles north of Vienna, and not liking the country in 1844 moved to Massac county, buying the improvement on a farm on the Vienna road near New Columbia, and died there in 1845.
Jacob W. moved into Washington precinct in 1847. He married Miss Mary A. Dye, Sept. 6, 1854, and she is still living. They went to housekeeping in the neighborhood but he being of a mechanical mind they moved to Metropolis in 1856. In 1883 they went to Kentucky, where Mr. Fry operated a saw and flour mill of his own and in 1893 came to Brooklyn, Illinois.
Since then he has been connected with all forward movements to upbuild his chosen city. He owns and operates the Brooklyn flouring mills and does a good business. Mr. and Mrs. Fry are the parents of eleven children, all of whom are dead except their son, John W., who lives at Melber, McCracken county, Kentucky, and conducts a large mill store and is postmaster.
All of his life Mr. Fry has been a zealous christian. He was converted and joined the Methodist church in 1854. In 1856 he united with the Baptist congregation at Waldo, became their deacon, changed to Metropolis congregation and served as deacon and trustee. He also holds those important positions in the church at Brooklyn.
The grandfather of Lewis Cummins was Zachariah Cummins, born in England and early emigrated to Virginia, residing several years near Richmond. He and Daniel Boone went to Kentucky together. Mr. Cummins purchased and improved a large tract of land in Trimble county, Kentucky, where he lived until 1836, when he sold everything and came to Pope county, Illinois. Later he lived with his children in Johnson county, and died at 76 years of age. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife was a Miss Lydia Arnett, born in North Carolina, a practicing physician of repute and died in Johnson county.
Thomas Cummins, father of Lewis, born, and reared in Virginia, joined the family in Kentucky. He was a carpenter and physician. He, his second wife and three children accompanied his father, Zachariah, to Illinois on a flatboat in 1836. When he landed at Metropolis there were six houses and the county sparsely settled. He purchases forty acres of land in Grantsburg township, Johnson county, entered 160 more and lived there until his death at the age of 81 years. His wife was Sarah Gabbart, of German ancestry, born in Mercer county, Ky., and died in Trimble county.
Lewis Cummins was born in Trimble county, Ky., Dec. 27, 1824. His mother died when he was eighteen months old, was raised by his maternal grandparents and at 16 years of age, became overseer of his grandfather's immense plantation. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, later superintended his uncle's ways at Smithland, Ky., about three years, then came to Johnson county, Ill. He purchased a farm in Grantsburg township, built a log house, was successful in farming and in 1865 entered the mercantile business at Metropolis.
September, 1849, he married Miss Mary J. Comer, born in Halifax county, Virginia, and daughter of John E. and Martha (Epps) Comer. John T., Zachariah, America Belle, wife of Mr. J.C. Howell, all of Metropolis and Lewis G., deceased are their children. Mr. and Mrs. Cummins were Methodists. Mr. Cummins was a Mason of many years and at his death May 3, 1898, he was interred under the service of that order.
John T. Cummins, D.D.S., son of Lewis Cummins, was born in Grantsburg township, Johnson county, Ill., Aug. 30th, 1852. He labored on the farm, attended the early schools and two terms at the seminary, clerked in his father's store and began the practice of dentistry in 1875, continuing until the present. He took a seminary course in dentistry at Terre Haute, Ind., and further pursued the work at Ann Arbor, Mich. In 1877 he graduated at the Chicago Dental college, and to further improve himself took a practitioner's course in 1890, and a post graduate course in 1895. With 32 applicants he stood examination before the United States post graduate association and was one of thirteen who passed. He was treasurer of the southern branch of the State Dental society, has appeared on the program before that body in "demonstration work" several times and is at present librarian of the society. In 1891 he was one of the dental examiners for five counties in southern Illinois and a member of the World's Colombian Dental college in 1893.
For a number of years he has maintained an office at Golconda, as well as Metropolis. He will, however, discontinue the former because his practice in his home city has gradually increased, demanding his whole time. No more elegant apartments are to be found anywhere than the suite of dental parlors in the Temple building.
Dr. Cummins was married to Miss Luella Rankins, daughter of Captain Benjamin Rankins, in 1875. She was born in Massac county, Ill. They have had two children, both dead. He is an Odd Fellow, Knight of Honor, and Knight of Pythias. He was re-elected alderman of Metropolis in 1900 by an increased majority.
The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 31, 1839, in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, took his college and seminary course at Danville, Kentucky, was licensed by the presbytery of Ebenezer April 11th, 1863, and ordained by the presbytery of Chilicothe, May, 1864.
He was stated supply of the Mount Vernon church, 1883, and of the Metropolis church 1885-1886, when he was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church, Quincy, Mass., a suburb of Boston. This was perhaps the largest New England church, numbering about 1,700 communicants, and Rev. Muse occupied the pulpit until his death, which occurred July 23rd, 1891. July 25th he was interred in Mount Wollaston cemetery, overlooking the ocean. Of his services the Quincy Ledger said: "He was eminently successful in establishing a strong church, particularly in numbers."
Rev. Muse's grandfather was a private in the Revolutionary war and his father a soldier in the war of 1812, while our subject, raised under Southern skies, early enlisted in the Union army in 1861, fought until disabled, was sick for a year after being discharged and gave $1,000, all his money, to aid in crushing the rebellion. In his lecture delivered before many Grand Army posts, we find this noble sentiment: "Don't forget the dead and don't forget the dying. While this is not the land of the living, but of the dying and pre-eminently so of the soldier. With muffled drums, with impaired bodies and aching, honest hearts we're marching to the grave, and we trust that as in this cradle of American liberty (Boston) citizens cherish the memories of men who died by that cradle in centuries past, so they will, too, cherish the memory of the men who suffered or died to disenthrall the manhood evolved from that cradle of American liberty and regenerated it in the second birth of tears and woe."
In April, 1871, Rev. Muse and Miss Laura Jones, of Centerville, Indiana, were married. They have two sons, R. Courte and Earnest E., who with their mother reside at Metropolis, Illinois.
Isaac Martin, father of William, was born in Virginia December, 1802, early left an orphan but carefully reared and educated by a good Quaker family at Vincennes, Indiana. In 1818 he went ot Lebanon, Ohio, and learned the trade of a stone mason, which he continued for a number of years. In 1828 he located to Adams county, Ohio, purchased heavily wooded real estate, cleared the same, erected a log cabin, farmed, prospered and entered Illinois land also. He married Miss Amanda, daughter of Amsiah Davidson, to whom ten children were born: John, James, Andrew J., and Isaac C., farmers in Ohio; Jane and Robinson, deceased; Amsiah, a farmer in Iowa; Sarah, widow of J.C. Cockeral; William and Mary, wife of John Hannah. William Martin was born in Adams county, Ohio, Jan. 27th, 1842, on the farm, learned to work, secured a good common school education. At 18 he enlisted in company F, First Ohio Light Artillery, and saw hard service at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Decatur. August, 1865, he was discharged and in 1866 came to Illinois to occupy land given him by his father. Spring summer and autumn were spent in clearing and improving the farm, while for twelve years he taught school. Mr. Martin was a practical surveyor and served one term as county surveyor. He has always been a zealous member of the Methodist church, holding license as an exhorter. Fraternally he is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Grand Army man, and was an F.M.B.A.
February 15, 1866, he married Miss Marion Ellen, daughter of William L. Blair, of Ohio. They were parents of two children, Miss Annie M. and William I., now deceased. Mrs. Martin was born Feb. 15, 1841, and died Feb. 19, 1900. She was a most lovable woman and an exemplary member of society and church circles.
Hon. George H. Pillow was born in Metropolis, Illinois. May 15, 1850, the son of Captain P.B. Pillow, then a prominent citizen of Massac county, who bore the distinction of holding a commission from the governor of Illinois as captain of the Regulators organized to suppress concerted violators of the law.
When George was only two years old he was taken by his parents to Gallatin county, where he has since resided. In early years he lived on the farm and attended the rural schools. In 1868 he was apprenticed to Karcher and Scanland, spending fourteen years at the bench and during the latter years he read law at odd hours during the day and late into the night.
He was admitted to the bar in 1882, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, which has reached far beyond the limits of his own county, and he has won an enviable reputation as a strong practitioner in criminal cases.
An eloquent and forceful speaker, an enthusiastic republican, he wields a decided influence in each campaign. He was the nominee of his party for congress in 1890 in the nineteenth district, overwhelmingly democratic, was the nominee for state's attorney of Gallatin county, solidly democratic, in 1896, running 147 votes ahead of his colleagues, and in 1898 was nominated for the legislature, but was defeated. Mr. Pillow has many friends in this county and he has always loved his birthplace.
Circuit Judge
Hon. Oliver A. Harker is the son of a Methodist minister and was born in Wayne county, Ind., fifty three years ago. He attended the public schools and entered college, but left to serve in the Federal army in the war of the Rebellion for nine months as a private in company D, 67th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and on detailed service in the quartermaster's department at Nashville, Tenn.Entering McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill., he graduated in 1866, was principal of the Vienna, Ill., public schools from 1867 to 1868, read law in the University of Indiana and practiced his profession eight years at Vienna.
Governor Cullom appointed him circuit judge in August, 1878, and the republicans have nominated and elected him successively in 1879, 1885, 1891 and 1897. In June 1891, he was appointed one of the appellate judges for the second district of Illinois, in which capacity he now serves.
Miss Siddie A. Bain of Vienna became his wife in 1870, and they have two sons, George M. and Oliver A., Jr., and one daughter, Winifred. Their home is in Carbondale but the judge has many warm friends in this county from long associations at the bar.
Joseph P. Robarts, circuit judge, was born March 2, 1849, in Godfrey, Madison county, Ill., the son of Dr. James Robarts, formerly of Philadelphia. His father was born May 5, 1814, graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1836, moved to Brownsville, then the county seat of Jackson county, from thence to Godfrey, and in 1858 to Carbondale, Ills., where he died in 1890. He was originally a whig, was the anti-slavery canidate for the legislature against Dr. John, father of John A. Logan, became a pronounced republican, enlisted in the rebellion as a brigade surgeon and rendered valuable and faithful service. His wife was Sarah M. Crandall, married 1848. She was born in 1824 in Rhode Island, reared in Rochester, New York in 1842, moved to Brighton, Ill., and died in Carbondale, Ill., in 1891.
Joseph P. Robarts, their son, attended the public schools and the Illinois Military Academy at Fulton, Whiteside county, Ill. He was sent to the military academy to prevent his following the army, as he attempted to enlist at 13 years of age. In 1864 he held a commission from Governor Yates as first lieutenant in the academy. When he left school he served three years apprenticeship under John H. Barton, publisher of the New Era, Carbondale, worked as journeyman on the Cairo Daily Bullentin, John H. Overby, publisher, and in 1873 established the Jackson County Era, Murphysboro, Illinois, with great success.
Having read the "Burr Trial" he decided to become a lawyer, read law under Hon. A.R. Pugh, Murphysboro, and was admitted Feb. 1880. He at once removed to Mound City, Pulaski county, Ill., practiced law, was elected county judge, and in 1891 was chosen one of the circuit judges of the First judicial circuit and re-elected in 1897.
Besides the judicial honors conferred upon him he was in 1873 elected assistant door keeper of the House of Representatives, state's attorney for Pulaski county in 1881, and in 1883 was appointed commissioner of the Southern Illinois penitentiary by Governor Hamilton. Always an ardent republican, he has served in many campaigns, and has been a delegate to almost every degree of party conventions, in 1892 representing his district in the national convention at Minneapolis.
October 21, 1875, he married Miss Lillie Ozborn, daughter of Colonel Lindorf Ozborn, commander of the Thirty-first Illinois Volunteer Regiment. She is also a second cousin of General John A. Logan. Fraternally Judge Robarts is Master and Royal Arch Mason, Knight Templar, Knight of Pythias, Knight of Honor and Odd Fellow. He stands six feet in height and weighs 300 pounds. He is cordial broad minded and has many friends.
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