McDonough ILGenWeb

MICKEY, Hon. J. Ross, an able lawyer of McDonough County, Ill., and one of the most prominent public men in his section of the State, was born in Eldorado Township, McDonough County, January 5, 1856, a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Sandidge) Mickey — the former a native of Fayette County, Pa., and the latter of Lincoln County, Ky. Both parents are now deceased. The grandparents on the father's side were born in Pennsylvania, while the maternal grandparents were natives of Kentucky. J. Ross Mickey was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and in boyhood enjoyed the advantages of the public schools of his neighborhood. Subsequently, he pursued a course of study at Lincoln University, Logan County, Ill., and after completing his education, taught school in town and country. While teaching he utilized his leisure hours in reading law, and finished his legal studies with Prentiss and Bailey. He was admitted to the bar in 1889, and shortly afterward formed a partnership with H. H. Harris (which lasted a year and a half), later becoming a partner of the late Byron Pontius, of Macomb, this relation being continued until 1898. In the latter year he was elected County Judge of McDonough County, for a term of four years, but in November, 1900, became a candidate for Representative in Congress for the Fifteenth Congressional District, to which he was elected, receiving 24,491 votes against 24,175 for Benjamin F. Marsh, his Republican opponent, and 819 for Norton M. Rigg, Prohibitionist. McDonough County is strongly Republican, and Mr. Mickey's personal popularity in the political field is attested by the majority received under these circumstances. Among the many congratulations received upon his nomination to Congress in September, 1900, was one signed by 122 Democrats of Bushnell Ill. Judge Mickey resigned his seat on the bench February 22, 1901. On the expiration of his term in Congress he declined a renomination and resumed the practice of law in Macomb, in which he is still engaged. Nearly all of Judge Mickey's mature life has been spent in Macomb, and devoted to the active practice of his profession, except during the intervals of his judicial incumbency and his term in the House of Representatives at Washington. Having thus been a long time in the public arena, the people of McDonough County and this section of Illinois have had ample opportunity to form a correct impression of his ability and character, and it is but just to say that he is regarded as an exceptionally able lawyer, a sound and upright Judge, and a popular representative of high serviceablity. Aside from professional and official qualifications, Judge Mickey is a man of broad information, and has familiarized himself with the salient features of his country, in a social, moral and material sense, by extensive travel throughout the States and Territories of the Union.

On March 24, 1892, Judge Mickey was married in Macomb, to Fanny C. Clugston, a daughter of John B. and Alice D. (Reed) Clugston, natives of Pennsylvania, and one child, Florence M., born May 16, 1893, is the offspring of this union. Mrs. Mickey's father is still living, at the age of eighty-one years, and her mother has reached the age of seventy-six years. The religious belief of Judge Mickey is in harmony with the creed of the Universalist Church, while on political issues he is an unswerving Democrat. His fraternal affiliation is with the A. F. & A. M. (Macomb Lodge No. 17), K. of P. (Montrose Lodge No. 104), and B. P. O. E. (Lodge No. 100), of Quincy, Ill.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 958-959, extracted 12 Sep 2019 by Norma Hass.