JAMES MARCUS ETHERTON. Merchant, public official, banker and promoter,
and influential factor for the good of his city, county and state in many
ways, James M. Etherton, of Carbondale, is well and favorably known in all
parts of Illinois as one of the leading citizens of his county and one of
the most progressive and public spirited men in the state. He has turned his
hand to several different lines of activity and made a good record in them
all; succeeding where others have failed or won but moderate triumphs;
expanding small enterprises into affairs of moment; arresting public thought
and action and forcing it into line with his own for the general welfare,
and generally exhibiting the highest traits of broad-minded, enterprising
and highly serviceable citizenship.
Mr. Etherton has a special
interest in Carbondale from the fact that he was born and reared in the
country near Carbondale and began his education in its schools. It has also
been the seat of all his business operations, and is in its present-day
development and strident progress largely the creature of his energy and
stimulating and directing intelligence. His life began here on April 5,
1862, and he is a son of William and Miami (Reynolds) Etherton, prosperous
farmers of Jackson during the lifetime of the father. The father, who died
some years ago, was born in Jackson county, Illinois. The mother, who is
still living, is a native of England, and the father's ancestors were also
residents of that country for many generations. The mother is a relative of
former Governor Reynolds of this state.
Their son James M. grew to
manhood in Carbondale. He completed his education at the Southern Illinois
Normal University, from which he was graduated in 1899. After leaving school
he started in business as a merchant in charge of a general store, and he is
still connected with that line of mercantile life, and conducting his trade
on a large scale. He is also one of the three owners of the William T.
Phelps Land and Coal Company and its manager. The holdings of the company
are located in Saline county, Illinois, and embrace fourteen hundred acres
of choice mineral deposit and land valuable for other purposes. The mines on
this land are undeveloped as yet.
In addition to his other
possessions Mr. Etherton owns a considerable block of the stock of what is
now the Carbondale National Bank, and is its president, an office which he
has held for a number of years, and filled with great credit to himself and
benefit to the city and county in which it is located. He has largely
increased its resources, patronage and usefulness and made it one of the
leading financial institutions in the southern part of Illinois, with a
record second to none for progressiveness in business and wisdom and
prudence in management.
Mr. Etherton is a firm and faithful Democrat
in his political faith and allegiance, and one of the strongest men in
ability and influence in his party. He served as a member of the Carbondale
school board three years and two terms as a member of the city council. He
has also served two terms as a member of the city council. He has also
served two terms in the lower house of the state legislature as a
representative of the Forty-fourth legislative district, and in this office
he showed his interest in the state and its people in a very conspicuous and
beneficial way with excellent results.
In the house to which he was
twice elected he served on the committees on appropriations, education, fish
and game, the geological survey, and banks and banking. He introduced and
secured the passage of a bill making an appropriation for the erection of
the Woman's Building at the Southern Illinois Normal University. He took an
earnest interest in this bill and worked it through the house by a hard
fight in which he was obliged to battle for every foot of his ground. He
also secured appropriations for other extensive public improvements, and
labored arduously to promote not only the cause of education but every other
interest of the people of the state. In consequence of his extended public
service he has become acquainted with every party man of prominence in both
of the leading political organizations, and it is greatly to his credit that
he is cordially esteemed by them all.
On the 21st of September,
1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Levina Jane Lee, of Pomona, a
daughter of Dr. A. M. Lee of that city. Three children have been born of the
union, all of whom are living. They are Leona, Ruby and James Everett. The
parents are devoted members of the Baptist church, and the father has been
one of the trustees of the congregation to which they belong during the last
seven years. Both are active workers in the church, with responsive hearts
and open hands for all the demands its benevolent and Christianizing
agencies make upon them, and ready at all times to perform any duty they can
in its service or for the benefit of those to whom it ministers. They are
among the best and most useful citizens of Jackson county, and are
universally recognized as in that class and esteemed accordingly.
Extracted 15 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, pages 759-761.