Biography - Jesse J. Fly
JESSE J. FLY, M. D. Illustrating in his own life and works the power of
energy and perseverance in accomplishing one's purpose, Jesse J. Fly, M. D.,
of Goreville, without adequate means at the start obtained a wide and
thorough education, and for many years was one of the active physicians of
Southern Illinois, and is still engaged in the practice of medicine to some
extent, many of his old-time patrons still insisting upon his services. A
son of Madison P. Fly, he was born in Wayne county, Illinois, November 7,
1846, of English stock.
The Doctor's paternal grandfather, Jesse Fly, who fought under General
Jackson at the battle of New Orleans during the war of 1812, was a son of
John Fly, who, with two of his brothers, immigrated from England to the
United States in early times and located in Tennessee. One of his brothers,
who had previously served as a body guard in the army of King George the
third, settled in one of the eastern states, while the other brother made a
home in a western frontier town. The great-grandfather, John Slover, was a
guide in the Crawford expedition. He was captured by that same band of
Indians at the age of eight and kept with the tribe until he was twelve
years old. He was again captured in the Crawford expedition, was staked out
and was to be burned the next day, but escaped during the night, working
himself loose where he was tied. This expedition occurred in 1782.
Born in Davidson county, Tennessee, in 1824, Madison P. Fly was brought to
Illinois by his parents in 1826, and grew to manhood on a farm in Wayne
county. In 1848 he moved with his family to Williamson county, and in 1854
there purchased a farm lying on the Jackson county boundary line, and was
there employed in tilling the soil until his death. During the progress of
the Civil war, he enlisted, in the spring of 1863, in Company E,
Eighty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served six months, when, on
account of ill health, he was honorably discharged and returned to his farm.
He married Sarah Asa, who survived him ten years, passing away in 1900.
Eight children were born of their union, as follows: Mary J., who died in
infancy; Jesse J., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Elmira Kilken; Sarah,
who died at the age of twenty-three years; Mrs. Almarinda Bane, of
Carbondale; Mrs. Laura Miller; Mrs. Vinnie Hudgins; and James, who is
engaged in farming at Marion.
Spending his boyhood days on the home farm, Jesse J. Fly acquired a
substantial education in the district schools. In the spring of 1864 he
enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment Volunteer
Infantry, and served one hundred days as per enlistment. He then returned
home and at the age of nineteen years began his career as a teacher. Two
years later, a young man without means, and with no other resources than
those endowed him by nature, he took unto himself a helpmeet, and during the
ensuing five years he taught school winters and farmed during seed time and
harvest. In the meantime he studied medicine, and in 1870 went to Cincinnati
to further pursue his studies at the Miami Medical College. Beginning the
practice of medicine in Williamson county, he continued there seven years,
when, in 1878, he entered the Nashville Medical College, in Nashville,
Tennessee, and was there graduated with the class of 1878.
Returning home after receiving his diploma, Dr. Fly purchased a farm at
Pulley Mills, Williamson county, and resumed his practice. Coming from there
to Goreville in 1892, he has since won a good position among the successful
physicians of this part of Johnson county, and is still engaged in the
practice of his profession to some extent. The Doctor is a member of several
medical organizations, including the Southern Illinois Medical Society; the
Illinois State Medical Society; the Egyptian Medical Society; and the
American Medical Association. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows; to the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; to
the Order of the Eastern Star; and to the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dr. Fly married, in 1867, Emmaranda Mclntosh, a daughter of Elijah Mclntosh,
one of the first men to serve as county clerk in Williamson county, and his
wife, Nancy (Bankston) Mclntosh. A large family of children were born to Dr.
and Mrs. Fly, namely: Nettie; Carrie, Martha Ann; Bertha; Ethel; Myrtle and
Willie, who died in infancy; Eva, Ralph Emerson; Afton; and William, also
who died in infancy. Dr. and Mrs. Fly have twelve grandchildren. Although
not a theologist, the Doctor is a man of religious faith and belief, being
an individual and original thinker along the lines of thought expressed by
Elbert Hubbard, and is a writer of philosophical treatises. He is not
identified with any religious denomination, and professes no formulated
creed, having faith in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, and,
with his high regard for purity and mortality, is a believer in salvation by
character.
Extracted 14 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, pages 697-698.
