My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. JOHN T. McBRIDE, a well known and influential citizen of Chester, bears a prominent part in the various affairs of the city. He is social, benevolent and energetic, and has held many offices of responsibility. To whatever position he is called he brings a determination to faithfully serve his fellow-men and deal honorably with them in every particular.

Our subject is descended from one of the oldest families in Randolph County, and on his father’s side is of Scotch-Irish blood. His grandfather, William McBride, was born in the north of Ireland, and on emigrating to America, located in South Carolina, where his youngest son, the father of our subject, was born in 1784. About 1804 the grandfather of our subject with his family emigrated to this state, making the journey overland, and settled a few miles south of the present town of Baldwin. In that early day there were only a few American families in this territory, and those who were here were principally of French origin. After a residence of some years in that place, the family moved to the west side of the Kaskaskia River, locating on section 30, township 4, range 8. The grandfather of our subject was an industrious man and a valuable addition to the Irish element of his community. Though somewhat advanced in years on coming to this state, he endured all the hardships of pioneer life, and died in 1830.

The father of our subject was first married while residing in South Carolina. His second wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Nelson, and became the mother of our subject. The Nelson family is of English origin, and settled at an early date in the old Abbeyville District of South Carolina, where our subject’s father was also born. The parental family numbered ten children, of whom our subject was the youngest of five sons and the youngest child but one. He is a native of this county, having been born on his father’s farm in township 4, range 8, March 15, 1838. Like other farmer lads he was reared on the home farm, and received a fair education in the primitive schools of that early day. His father dying in 1856, our subject, who was then a young man of eighteen years, remained at home and superintended the operations of the estate, his brothers, with one exception, having married and moved away.

The maiden name of our subject’s wife was Mary A. Wilson. She was the daughter of Gilbert and Jennie Wilson, early residents of this county, and became the wife of Captain McBride April 21, 1859. After his marriage our subject continued to reside upon the old homestead until 1864, when he came to Chester. Mrs. Mary A. McBride departed this life in December, 1861, leaving a daughter, Eliza G., now the wife of Louis C. Stebbins. In 1872 Captain McBride was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary C. Smith, who departed this life two years later. Their union was blessed by the birth of a son, Kinney S., who makes his home with our subject. The present wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary E. Brown.

In the fall of 1860 our subject was elected Assessor and Treasurer of Randolph County, and was re-elected in 1862. During his incumbency of the offices he discharged the duties devolving upon him in a most creditable manner. In the fall of 1864 his name was presented as a candidate for the office of Sheriff, to which position he was elected. He was very popular in his community, and would have continued in the office except for provisions in the constitution, which made him ineligible to serve two terms consecutively. In 1868, however, he was again chosen to the position, which he ably filled for the two following years. After the expiration of his term of office he devoted himself assiduously to his business affairs until the fall of 1873, when he was chosen County Clerk by a majority of fifteen hundred votes over his opponent. While serving in that position he was elected Mayor of Chester and served one term of two years. In 1878 he was chosen to represent his district in the Legislature. He is a straightforward man, of excellent habits and a kindly disposition, and as may already be inferred, is one of the prominent men of the county.