Sophia Felton was born 30 November 1862 and die 19 May 1962. She was always called Phi (rhymes with fly) by family and friends. According to my Aunt Vivian she was always lively, but not as lively as her sisters Hannah and Amy, who must have been real characters from the way she said it.
Sophia’s married Archibald McPhee 30 April 1891. They had two children, Benjamin (born 9 April 1894) and a baby who died when he (or she) was only months old. The newspaper and the burial record only says “child” so I don’t know the name or sex.
Archy McPhee died 22 November 1894 in St. Louis.
On 28 December 1899 Sophia married Lucien Pruitt. Shortly after the wedding he was involved in a sordid court case.
Centralia Daily Sentinel 19 January 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)
Squire old Phoenix will have a lawsuit in his court out in Brookside tomorrow that promised to be interesting. Some months ago Lucien Pruitt was involved in a trouble with a young woman in the neighborhood and she had him arrested. By the help of friends the matter was settled by his paying the girl $100, she giving a receipt agreeing to consider the matter settled and not bother him any more. Afterwards he married another woman, which aroused the other girl and she consulted a lawyer. Her lawyer told her the settlement she had made was not binding, by reason of its not having been approved by the Probate Judge. All cases of that kind which are settled for less than $400 must have the sanction of the Judge or they are not good. She has taken advantage of that fact and has had him re-arrested and had had him re-arrested and the hearing is set for tomorrow. Pruitt feels that he is being imposed upon and will fight to a finish.
Centralia Daily Sentinel 27 January 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)
A lively legal battle was fought out in Brookside yesterday afternoon in Squire Wood Phoenix’s Court. It was a case brought by a young lady against Mr. Pruitt on the charge of bastardy. It seems that they had had trouble once before and she had Pruitt arrested but the matter was settled by his paying her $100 and she giving him a receipt in full for all claims. He then married another woman, which seems to have arroused the girl of his first love and she consulted an attorney and was advised that her settlement would not hold good for the reason that it did not have the approval of the County Judge. On this she concluded that she could get some more money and had him rearrested on the old charge. She employed J.J. Bundy and Pruitt secured City Attorney Dew and they went at it yesterday. The court decided in favor of Pruitt on the strength of his receipt in full, regardless of the point that it lacked the approval of the County Judge, and there the matter stands. It will likely get into the Circuit Court, as both sides seem to be full of fight.
Centralia Daily Sentinel 29 January 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)
Tom Ammons, a Clinton county officer, was here today and arrested Mr. Pruitt, of Brookside, who came out best in a suit brought by a woman in that county. She has taken a new turn and will try it again.
Centralia Daily Sentinel 14 February 1900 page 2 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)
The Pruitt case, which was taken from Brookside to Carlyle, was heard yesterday in Judge Hanke’s court. VanHoorebeke & Louden and C.F. Dew were the attorneys for the complainant and J.J. Bundy and T.E. Ford were the lawyers for Pruitt. The complainant proved her case and got first blood and the matter of judgement was to be argued today.
I haven't found a record of the judgement, but I haven't searched the court records. There are no further articles in the Centralia or other local papers.
Lucien and Sophia suffered a tragedy that is the reason my mother never learned to swim, but that's a subject for another post.
The Pruitts helped out a young runaway.
Centralia Daily Sentinel 26 January 1916 page 4 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)
JOHNNY NUKASKY CHICAGO BOUND
Young Buckner Lad is Star Walker–Going To See Mother
Johnny Nukasky, 14 year old, is a guest of honor at the police headquarters this afternoon.
Johhny was entertained at dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Pruitt, 504 North Walnut street, and now he is waiting for the authorities to secure for him transportation to Chicago where he will join his mother and his little sister, Rosie, who live at 1452 South Morgan street.
Johnny walked all the way from Buckner, in Franklin county, near Herrin, and it only took him four days to do it. He reached here before noon today, tired and footsore, but determined to reach the great city where live his mother and sister.
Lucien Pruitt, a Burlington switchman, saw the boy in the north yards, and after learning the youngster’s plight, he took him home, and Johnny had his first real meal since he ran away from his drunken father last Saturday. Mr. Pruitt then notified the authorities and asked that Johnny be cared for. As soon as Supervisor Roemer returns the lad will be sent on his way. A half fare ticket will make three happy hearts in a dingy Morgan street tenement and the cost to the county will be small.
Johnny told a straightforward story and that he is possessed of grit and perseverance is shown by his successful journey through a country unknown to him. When he left Buckner, 60 miles away, he had thirty cents. The night before his father had beaten him. The lad hoarded his money and ate just enough to keep away the pangs of hunger. He said he did not ask anyone to feed him and he seemed proud that he didn’t have to. At night he slept in depots.
Unfortunately Lucien Pruitt was another victim of workplace hazards. It was dangerous to work around trains. See the post on Rufus Buchanan McClelland and John Allen McClelland for other victims. During my family research I came across an article in 29 Nov 1890 Centralia Daily Sentinel on railroad accidents. It said that 1,972 railroad employees had been killed during the year and 20,028 injured. That's one death for every 357 employees and one injury for every 55 employees. It further reported that if only trainmen (engineers, firemen, conductors & others who ride the trains) were counted, there was 1 death per 117 employees and 1 injury for every 12 employees.
Centralia Daily Sentinel 10 November 1933 page 1 column C (NewspaperArchives.com)
LUCIEN PRUITT SEVERELY HURT
Bumped from Car in the Burlington Yards; Falls on Track
Lucien Pruitt, 59, of 536 North Walnut street, was reported slightly improved but still in a serious condition today at St. Mary’s Hospital where he is a patient suffering from back injuries as the result of a railroad accident yesterday where he was engaged in switching cars in the Burlington yards here.
Mr. Pruitt, the oldest switchman in the Burlington’s employ in the Centralia yards, was standing upon a box car while a crew was engaged in switching cars in the regular way, railroad officials said, when the car bumped into another car, throwing him off. He fell upon a track, the lower part of his back striking a rail and inflicting serious injuries, the exact nature of which have not been determined.
Physicians said that so far they had been unable to have X-Ray pictures taken because of Mr. Pruitt’s condition. Today he was reported in a semi-conscious state, and at various times entirely unconscious.
Centralia Daily Sentinel 22 November 1933 page 1 column B (NewspaperArchives.com)
Lucian Pruitt’s Injuries Fatal
“Q” Switchman, Hurt November 9, Passes Away
Lucian Pruitt, 536 N. Walnut Street, died at 4:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon at St. Mary's Hospital where he had been since Nov 9 as a result of an accident in which he was thrown from a box car while working as a switchman in the Burlington yards here. He was 59 years, 5 months and 7 days old.
Since he moved here 40 years ago, he has lived in Centralia, where he was employed as a switchman by the Burlington Railroad for 30 years, being one of the oldest men in point of service on the Beardstown division. He was at work the day he was injured in switching cars when the car upon which he was standing bumped into another car throwing him off. He fell upon a track the lower part of his back striking a rail and inflicting serious injuries, including a broken pelvis bone.
Mr. Pruitt’s death was attributed to the injuries received in the accident and a weakened condition brought about from illness prior to the accident, physiccians said.
An inquest is scheduled for 7 o’clock tonight at the Rev. T. Baldridge Funeral Home, Dr. S.D. Carrigan, coroner of Marion county, announced today. The inquest was delayed in order that the switching crew working with Mr. Pruitt would not lose any time from work.
Funeral services for Mr. Pruitt will be held from the Roy T. Baldridge Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Thursday with the Rev. Theodore Broshe of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer officiating. Interment will be made in the Elmwood cemetery.
Mr. Pruitt was born June 14, 1874 at Liletown, Ky the son of Burrell and Delilia Lile Pruitt, and he married Mrs. Sophia Felton McPhee, December 28, 1899 in Centralia, IL. He is survived by his widow, one son Allen B. Pruitt, Pittsburgh, PA, and a step-son, Ben McPhee, De Moines, IA .
Mr. Pruitt was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
Sophia herself lived a long, happy life.
Des Moines Tribune, Thursday 10 May 1962 page 30 (Newspapers.com)
Sophia Pruitt Dead at 99
Mrs. Sophia Pruitt, 99, of 2220 Sunset drive, died early Thursday at her home after a two-week illness. She would have been 100 years old next November.
A native of Sheboygan, Wis., Mrs. Pruitt lived 85 years in Centralia, Ill. before coming to Des Moines 10 years ago. She was a member of the Christian Church at Centralia.
Services will be at 8 o’clock tonight at the McLaren Funeral Home in West Des Moines. A second service and burial will be Saturday in Centralia.
Surviving are a son, Ben McPhee of Des Moines, with whom she made her home; a sister, Mrs. Amy Hogan of Ottumwa; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
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