WILLIAM D. LYERLY. The present efficient state's attorney, William D.
Lyerly, of Jonesboro, has, during the thirteen years that he has been
practicing before the Union county bar, proven himself one of the bright
legal lights of Southern Illinois and a man of much more than ordinary
administrative and executive ability. An able and untiring official, he has
ever been faithful in his discharge of the duties of his high position and
relentless in his prosecution of those who have disregarded the laws of the
state, but a high sense of justice has tempered his actions always, and he
has ever been ready to assist those whose misfortune it has been to have
become the victims of circumstance. Mr. Lyerly is a native of Union county,
Illinois, and was born April 28, 1872, a son of John and Melvina M. Lyerly,
farming people of Union county who are now living retired in Jonesboro.
William D. Lyerly attended the district schools, and graduated from the
Union Academy, Anna, in 1892. During the next six years he was engaged in
teaching school in Union county, and during this time prosecuted his law
studies. Eventually he entered the law offices of Judge Crawford, in
Jonesboro, and he was admitted to the bar in 1898, at which time he began
practice. In 1908 Mr. Lyerly was elected state's attorney, having served
very acceptably in the office of city attorney from 1898 to 1903, and as
president of the board of education from 1905 to 1909, and during the fall
of 1910 he was the candidate of the Democratic party for Congress, but met
with defeat. Several of his cases have gone to the Supreme Court, where Mr.
Lyerly's contentions have been upheld. He has identified himself with
various business enterprises of a large nature and is now a director of the
Union County Milling Company and president of the Jonesboro Plank Road
Company. Mr. Lyerly is a man of whom it can be said he has chosen well. He
possesses the courage of his convictions and has been fearless in
championing what he believes to be just and right. He has the gift of
oratory, which has been admirably displayed in a number of important cases,
and his thorough knowledge of law and jurisprudence has made him an almost
invincible opponent.
In 1901, Mr. Lyerly was married to Miss Ethel Nusbaum, who was born at
Jonesboro, October 27, 1879, daughter of the Rev. D. S. Nusbaum, Baptist
pastor at Jonesboro. Mrs. Lyerly was for several years engaged in teaching
in the public schools of this place. Two children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Lyerly: Martiei and Edna, aged eight and seven years respectively. The
family is connected with the Baptist church, in which both Mr. Lyerly and
his wife are very active, he now being a member of the board of trustees and
for seven years superintendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is
connected with Blue Lodge No. Ill, Jonesboro, and Chapter No. 45, Anna, of
Masonry; Lodge No. 241, of the Odd Fellows; the Modern Woodmen and the Order
of the Eastern Star, No. 163, in all of which he has been through the
chairs, while Mrs. Lyerly is a member of the last-named order. The family is
widely known in this section, and both Mr. and Mrs. Lyerly enjoy the respect
and esteem of an exceptionally large circle of friends.
Extracted 16 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, pages 729-730.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
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Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
