1925 Biography - Thomas Vickers
The Paternal grandfather of Judge Vickers was Thomas, a pioneer of Warren County Kentucky, from that state he came to Massac. County, with his family in an early day. James (2), a son, entered land and opened a farm in that county. He married Celia Smith, who was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and came to Massac County, about 1840. James (2) died leaving her a widow with two small sons, Alonzo (3), and Richard (3). The boys were obliged to assist in making the living. Alonzo K. attended the country schools and the high school at Metropolis till 1874, when he entered the office of Judge R. W. McCartney of that city and prepared himself for the practice of law. He farmed part of the time for the next few years, putting all his spare time on his chosen profession. In 1877 with a clear and comprehensive knowledge of law, he began practice in Metropolis. Two years later he came to this county as editor and publisher of the Vienna Weekly Times, a Democratic newspaper. He followed this profession till 1880 when he returned to the practice of law, in which he was very successful, and well known in all the courts of Southern Illinois. He was elected to the legislature in 1886, served one term. In 1891 he was elected as one of the judges of the first judicial circuit, which position he filled with great satisfaction for two successive terms. His decisions on the circuit bench had made him so popular that he was elected to the supreme bench 1906. He lacked a few months of serving one term as Supreme Judge of Illinois. He also serving as Chief Justice of the state during this term. On his election to this office, he moved with his family to East St. Louis, and Johnson County lost one of her most brilliant professional men. Judge Vickers died in East St. Louis, in the prime of life, 1914. He was married to Leora E. Armstrong of Massac County, 1880. They had children, J. F., who is a lawyer and makes his home in the South. Hazel M. is a business woman of Chicago, Ill.; Louise the youngest is the wife of J. A. Moody of the Moody Commission Firm of East St. Louis; they have Hazel and Betty Lou. Judge Vickers was a staunch Republican, a Mason, a member and strong supporter of the M. E. Church. His widow is a resident of Vienna, Ill., and enters into the church and social activities of our village with interest and helpfulness.
Extracted 08 Feb 2017 by Norma Hass from 1925 A History of Johnson County, Illinois, by Mrs. P. T. Chapman, pages 453-454.
