James D. McCown came with his parents from Robinson County, Tennessee in the late 1830’s to Williamson County. He was born on February 7, 1824 and followed his father’s trade of farming like most in those days.

On July 18, 1844, James married Cena A. Norris in the county. Cena had been born in this county on February 16, 1826. In 1847, they had their first child Talitha McCown. This was followed by Letha McCown in 1849 and James D. in 1850. In that year, the census indicates they were living in Marion next door to John H. White, Robert M. Hundley and James Pulley. James was now 26 and a wagon maker by trade. He claimed a real estate value of $150. Cena was 24 years old taking care of her three children.

On June 11^th 1860, when the federal census was taken, James had reached 36 years old and Cena was 34. They now had six children as follows, Telitha 13, Litha 12, James L. 9, William D. 6, Florence 3 and Mary 1. They lived in the Marion School District which means they were right in town. James was now a dry goods merchant and claimed a real estate value of $3,200 and personal estate of $4,000. The following year in 1861, they had their seventh child Myrta.

After the civil war started and the dissent over southern sympathies occurred in 1862, several of the locals attempted to inspire Union patriotism by forming up the 128^th Illinois Infantry. Robert M. Hundley, James Pulley and James McCown went to Camp Butler at Springfield, Illinois in November 1862 and on November 4^th enlisted in Company S of the 128^th. Hundley was Colonel, Pulley was Lt. Colonel and McCown was made Major. James had sold his interest in the dry good business to his partner, M. C. Campbell.

The regiment was immediately sent to Cairo, Illinois for training. Major McCown took the responsibility of training and drilling his troops and never got the opportunity to enter active service. While conducting training at Mound City he contracted “camp fever”. Typho-malarial fever was the characteristic “camp fever” during the Civil War. Symptoms included: a pronounced chill followed by an intermittent fever, abdominal tenderness and nausea, general debility, diarrhea, retention of urine, and furring of the tongue. He died at Mound City on March 10, 1863. His body was returned home and is currently buried at Rose Hill cemetery.

The death of James left Cena with seven small children to provide for and she remained a widow till her death. In 1900, she was 74 and living in Marion with a nephew, Ed Alexander who was a teamster. She died on March 10, 1906. She had spent her life in rearing her children and was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. Her body is interred at Aikman Cemetery (Old Marion Cemetery).

Of their children, Florence married Albert L. Cline and had six children. Three of the children died in infancy or childhood. A.L. Cline was a grocer by trade and was President of the Marion Pressed Brick Plant that operated on N. Carbon next to the I.C. RR tracks. (This is roughly where the Bank of Marion satellite location is now.) They were active members of the M.E. Church South on S. Market St. (current day, the church is Aldersgate). He and his brother located the church on S. Market St. Florence died in 1905.

A 1908 plat map indicates that daughter Mary owned 80 acres at the intersection of Bainbridge road and what is now W. DeYoung where the Heartland Regional Medical Center is now located. She also owned 38.5 acres on the northeast corner of Bainbridge road and old Rt 13. She passed away in 1953.

The fates of the rest of the children are unknown at this time.

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(Photos and some data from 1905 Souvenir Book, WCHS; remaining data from Federal census records, Regimental Records and Civil War Records; compiled on 01/21/2013 by Sam Lattuca)