HON. MATTHEW J. INSCORE, attorney at law, Anna, was born at Springfield, Tenn., February 2, 1841. His great-grandfather came from Germany, and settled in North Carolina, where his son William was born. The latter was a farmer, married there, and was the father of five children — Louis, Matilda, William W., Louisa and Joseph, the brother of subject, who was born 1811, in North Carolina. He went to Tennessee with his parents, and there learned the cabinet-maker's trade in Nashville. He came to this county in 1850, and died there in 1854. He was married at Springfield, Tenn., to Mrs. Eliza J. Fyke, who was born in South Carolina, and died at Springfield, Tenn., in 1846. She was the daughter of William C. and Eliza Powell, whose parents came from England. She was the mother of seven children — Matilda, Oliver C, William W., Mary J., Matthew J., Martha A. and John L. Our subject received the full benefit of about thirty days' schooling during a three-month term in a district school in Union County. At the age of fourteen, he commenced to work as an apprentice for Klutts & O'Neal, saddlers and harness-makers at Jonesboro for a three-year term. After the shop had changed to Samuel Flagler, who had bought it and moved it to Anna, our subject continued to work for him. After working two years and seven months, as an apprentice, in 1863 he commenced working for himself, and continued in that until 1869, when he was admitted to the bar. Our subject is a self-educated man, in his youth his books being his dearest companions, and while working at his trade he would have a law book before him, and thus through his own exertions he rose from the harness shop to the bar. Mr. Inscore has devoted most of his attention to the criminal law, that being his favorite department. He has filled the offices of Town Clerk, Treasurer and Police Magistrate of Anna, Ill. In 1872, he was elected by the Republican party, as Representative for the Fiftieth Senatorial District of Illinois. He was re-elected in 1874, and since then has followed his profession. Our subject has been married twice. The first time in Xenia, Ill., to Amanda J. Haskins, who died June 26, 1876, at Anna, Ill. She was the mother of four children, now living — Frances E., Stella B., Leet and Henry W. Mr. Inscore was married the second time to Miss Mary E. Brown, born April 17, 1841, in Pulaski, Ill. Subject is a member of the Hiawatha Lodge, No. 291, I. O. O. F., and in politics is identified with the Republican party.
Extracted 02 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 72.
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