Archibald T. MOZLEY, who owns and operates a good farm in Elvira
Township, and occupies an honorable position among the farmers of
Johnson County, was born in Graves County, Ky., three miles from the
town of Mayfield, December 17, 1839. His father was John Norman MOZLEY,
and he was born either in Maury or Marshall County, Twin. He in turn
was a son of John MOZLEY, who was a resident of both Virginia and
Georgia before he finally settled in Tennessee, at an early day in the
history of its settlement. He came to Illinois in 1842, and located six
miles southeast of Vienna, where his life was brought to a close at a
ripe old age. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah NORMAN, and she
died on the old farm in this county.
The father of our subject was married in Tennessee to Agnes, a daughter
of John and Lucy GALLOWAY, and a native of North Carolina. He moved to
the adjoining State of Kentucky, and after spending a short time in
Graves County, returned to Tennessee. In a few years he again took up
his residence in Graves County, Ky., whence he came to Illinois in 1842
with his wife and three children, making the journey with an ox-team,
cooking and camping by the way. He located on a tract of Government
land six miles southeast of Vienna, in what is now Grantsburg Township.
His first work was to erect a house of round logs, with a puncheon
floor and a stick and mud chimney. In 1853 his wife died and he rented
his land, and, removing to Elvira Township, entered quite a large tract
of Government land, including the one hundred and sixty acre farm our
subject owns and occupies. Mr. MOZLEY lived in Elvira twelve years, and
then took up his residence in Dongola, Union County, where he engaged
in the lumber business two years. After that he lived in Vienna a few
years, prior to buying a farm two miles from the village, which he
occupied some years. His next move was to dispose of that property and
invest the proceeds in the grocery business. Two years later he
abandoned that, and returned to Elvira Township, spent two years there,
and since then has made his home with his son John T. in Grantsburg
Township. He has prospered in his labors, and accumulated a comfortable
property, besides contributing his quota to the development of the
agricultural interests of the county. His first wife, mother of our
subject, died in March, 1853, leaving six children. He reared one child
by a second marriage.
He of whom we write was but three years old when he came to Illinois
with his parents, so has no remembrance of other than his adopted home.
In his early recollection Johnson County was very sparsely settled,
while deer, wild turkeys and other game were plentiful. His early
education was conducted in the pioneer schools of the time, the second
school that he attended being taught in a rail pen. That was only used
temporarily, however, while a log cabin was being built for the pupils
to occupy. It was furnished with slab benches, which were supported by
wooden pins, and had no backs or desks in front. In those days quill
pens, made by the teacher, were the only ones used.
Our subject continued an inmate of the parental home until he was
twenty years old, and then lived with an elder brother one year. After
marriage he resided on his father's homestead nearly a year, and
subsequently located on the place which he now makes his home, which
comprises a quarter of section 5, Elvira Township. He has good
facilities for farming, his land is exceedingly fertile and is well
tilled, and the farm is kept in an excellent condition.
transcribed by Nan Starjak
Source:
The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin
Counties
Chicago
Biographical Publishing Co., 1893
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