Mrs. Sara A. (DUNCAN) POOR, widow of Jasper Newton POOR, is a resident
of Vienna, and well known in social circles as an amiable, attractive
woman, living in the most beautiful home in the village, planned and
built by herself and husband a short time before his death. She is a
native of Williamson County, where her parents are still living on the
old farm. Her father is one of the substantial farmers of his county,
and he has also engaged in business as a general merchant and dealer in
tobacco. He and his wife had a family of six children, as follows:
Warren Webster, a lawyer at Marion; George Washington, proprietor of a
general merchandise store at Lake Creek; James Thomas, who died in
infancy; Perrin Wilson, a merchant at Lake Creek; Charles L., at home
with his parents; and Sara A.
The subject of this biography was very well educated in her girlhood,
and her advantages at home were such as to cultivate the best traits of
her character and develop in her a true womanhood, which fitted her for
the responsibilities of wedded life, when she was united in marriage
with Jasper Newton POOR, September 3, 1882. They were congenial in
their dispositions, and worked together hand in hand in the building of
a dwelling that is at once the finest and coziest within the precincts
of Vienna, its appointments luxurious, tasteful and comfortable. Here
Mrs. POOR lives with and for her children, Mamie Newton and Grace
Duncan, steadily and cheerfully pursuing the even tenor of her way, and
not permitting the lives of her loved ones to be shadowed by her
sadness at the loss of one who was a true friend as well as a devoted
husband.
Jasper N. POOR was a Johnson County boy, born November 5, 1855, a son
of Sampson D. POOR, a well-known pioneer of this county, now residing
in the city of Metropolis, in Massac County. Sampson POOR is a native
of Tennessee, and came to this State when quite young with his father,
traveling hither with a team, their household effects being loaded into
a wagon. The grandparents of our subject's husband had but little means
witli which to enter upon the new life in a comparative wilderness,
that was thinly inhabited, and where a great deal of hard labor was
required in clearing a farm before they could realize a competence.
They were, however, well able to cope with the difficulties incident to
pioneer life, and before they passed away had made a comfortable home
and had done their full share in developing the county.
The father-in-law of our subject lived in Johnson County for many
years, was married here to Sarah Jane MOUNT, the daughter of a pioneer
family of the county of which she is a native, and after marriage he
bought an unimproved farm here. He and his wife began life together in
a cabin, and he devoted his energies to clearing his land, and in time
made a fine farm of it. He and his helpmate also had to encounter the
hardships of frontier life, and only through sacrifice and persistent
industry carried out their plans, and in time had one of the best farms
in the neighborhood. They continued to occupy it until 1886, when they
removed to Metropolis, where they are spending their declining years in
the enjoyment of the fruits of their early labors. They were the
parents of ten children, as here recorded: Sarah Jane, wife of W. J.
FERN, of Tunnel Hill Township; Jasper Newton, our subject's husband;
Sydney Isabel, wife of Lewis H. FRIZZELL, of Vienna; George Washington,
who died in 1887; Mary,wife of Pleasant BURRIS, of New Grantsburg;
Elizabeth Alice, wife of L. G. SIMMONS, of Metropolis; Benjamin
Franklin, who died in 1868; Dora Ann and Cora Ann, who died in 1873;
and India M., who died in 1877.
Jasper N. POOR was the second child born to his parents. He was brought
up on a farm, and besides doing what work was required of him as of all
farmers' boys when not in school, he tended a general merchandise
store, of which his father was proprietor. He had a natural talent for
business, and this early experience, seconded by sound instructions in
the principles of business and finance at the Evansville Business
College, of which he was a graduate, gave him superior advantages and
made him one of the leaders in commercial enterprises in his native
county. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-four years old,
and then came to Vienna to engage in the mercantile business,
associating himself with C. COLIN for the ensuing four years. At the
end of that time, in 1884, he entered upon his career as a banker,
establishing the Bank of Vienna, which, in the few short years that it
was under his control, rose to be one of the first moneyed institutions
in this part of southern Illinois. He acquired an enviable reputation
as a financier, whose keen insight into money matters seldom found him
at fault in making in vestments, while he combined a progressive policy
with cautious methods in the management of his bank.
He was the soul of honor and integrity, and honest purpose
characterized all his dealings. He met his obligations promptly, and
his patrons, many of whom had known him from childhood, trusted him
implicitly, and their confidence was never betrayed. He was absorbed in
his business and avoided civic life, although he was thoroughly
public-spirited and was prominent and influential in furthering the
progress of the village and county. While he was yet in the full flush
and vigor of a noble manhood, when life was at its brightest and all
things seemed well with him, and a happy home and loving wife and
children and many friends added to the charm of living, death came to
him, and January 25, 1890, his hands and brain were stilled from their
labors, and his eyes closed in the sleep that knows no waking this side
of eternity.
transcribed by Nan Starjak
Source:
The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin
Counties
Chicago
Biographical Publishing Co., 1893
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