Biography - Archibald Mozley
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, Tenn. 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.
Mr. Mozley was first married in 1861 to Frances, a daughter of Pinckney and Susan Shelton, and a native of Tennessee. Her death occurred November 13, 1866. There are two children by that marriage: John Marshall and Norman A. Mr. Mozley married a second time, in November, 1867, Rosa A. George becoming his wife. She was born in Union County, and is a daughter of Anthony and Louisa (Augustine) George, who were natives of Germany and pioneers of Union County. Mr. and Mrs. Mozley have four children: George W., Charlie F., Mary L. and Eugene Garfield. Our subject and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Church, and their daily lives exemplify their earnest religious faith. In politics he has voted with the Republicans since the war.
Extracted 17 Apr 2016 from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 173-174.
