Earnest and persistent application to his chosen profession has made
Jesse Peebles, of Carlinville, one of the successful attorneys of the
Macoupin county bar, and his devotion to the interests of those he
represents has gained for him the warm personal friendship of many of
his clients. Born in Carlinville, March 31, 1870, he is a son of Lewis
P. and Sarah E. (Odell) Peebles, extended record of whom appears
elsewhere in this work. The family on both sides of the house can claim
ancestry extending back for many years in America. John Peebles, the
great-grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch descent. He was born in
South Carolina and served under General Marion in the Revolutionary war,
later settling in Kentucky. Jeptha Reader, another of the ancestors, was
a native of Tennessee and was of English descent. He came to Macoupin
county in the early pioneer days. His wife was Winifred Harrison, a
second cousin of President William Henry Harrison of the United States.
Jesse Peebles, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of
South Carolina. He came to Illinois in 1833 and settled in Macoupin
county, where he was well known as a successful farmer and local
preacher. For more than three-quarters of a century members of the
family have been actively connected with the development of central
Illinois and have nobly performed their part in a work which posterity
will ever regard with pride.
Jesse Peebles, whose name stands at
the head of this sketch, was reared at Carlinville and received his
preliminary education in the public schools. He later became a student
of Blackburn University, from which he was graduated with the degree of
A. B., in 1889. After leaving college he applied himself to the study of
law under his father and Judge A. N. Yancey, and was admitted to the
Illinois bar upon examination in the spring of 1892. He began practice
in partnership with his father, but later D. E. Keefe was taken into the
firm. At the end of four years Mr. Keefe was elected county judge of
Macoupin county and after serving in that office again resumed practice
with his former associates. At the end of three years he severed his
relations with the firm and moved to East St. Louis, where he has since
been located. Mr. Peebles of this review and Lewis Peebles, his father,
have since continued as partners, their clientage being one of the
largest of any firm in this section of the state. The junior member has
from his early manhood been an earnest and conscientious student and
keeps fully abreast of the times on all important questions affecting
the interest of the county, state or nation. He is a valued member of
the Illinois State Bar Association and can claim many friends in that
organization.
In August, 1894, Mr. Peebles was married to Miss
Edmonia McClure, a daughter of James A. and Ellen (Collins) McClure,
both of whom were born in Kentucky. Mr. McClure came to Illinois and
entered government land in Carlinville township, Macoupin county, which
he cleared and improved. He spent his declining years at Carlinville and
died in 1901, his wife being called away two years later. Three children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peebles: Martha Ellen, who is thirteen
years of age; Don, aged ten years; and Pauline, seven years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Peebles occupy a beautiful residence at No. 905 First
North street. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias
lodge at Carlinville. He gives his support politically to the democratic
party and is now serving as secretary of the democratic county central
committee. For eight years he has filled the office of assistant states
attorney and from 1901 to 1903 was master in chancery. In 1909 he was
elected mayor of Carlinville and discharged the duties of that position
for two years, displaying a judgment and interest in the public welfare
which reflected upon his administration the highest credit. He is in
active demand as a campaign speaker and there are few men in this part
of the state who can hold the attention of an audience as closely as he.
His religious belief is indicated by membership in the Methodist church,
to which his wife and family also belong. He has shown special aptitude
in the calling to which he has devoted his best thought and energy. He
brings to his work a careful and welltrained mind, with clear and
comprehensive views, and has gained honored recognition on the part of
his brother practitioners. As attorney and counsellor he has been
unusually successful and ranks among the ablest in Macoupin county.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 373-375.
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