In 1851 he moved his family, together with his father’s, to Williamson County. Two years later he was elected constable and served for four years. From 1854 to 1855 he served as Deputy Sheriff, during which time he was appointed marshal of Marion.
On May 3, 1859, Samuel rode to the land office at Shawneetown, Illinois and purchased 280 acres of land in Section 23, Township 10, Range 3 which is today Creal Springs Township. His land was located just to the north and slightly west of the City of Creal Springs.
When an Illinois Census was taken June 13, 1855 Samuel and his family were living in this location. He had a family of five and claimed his livestock value at $40.00.
By the 1860 census, Samuel had moved his family into Marion city limits. He and his wife were both 33, he lists himself as a farmer with a real estate value of $1,000 and personal estate of $400. They had seven children living at home ranging from 15 years to four months old.
In 1865 he was appointed Master in Chancery and served in that capacity two terms then was elected Justice of the Peace and served four years. A Master in Chancery is an officer of a court of equity appointed to assist the court by finding the facts in a contested case or by executing a conveyance or transfer of property owned by a defendant who has refused to convey or transfer under the decree of the court.
In 1865 he took the third census of the County, which then showed a population of only 18,000. The County in those days was Democratic by a large majority, only three Republican votes being cast for a good many years. Coming from a Democratic state and of a Democratic parentage, he was naturally a Democrat, but cast his first vote on a bet for Henry Clay for president. However, he put up his money on James K. Polk, and won.
He joined the Masons in 1858 and was Worthy Master of Lodge #89 in 1870-71, tenth degree or Council Mason, and was Master of the Blue Lodge. Vick joined the Odd Fellows in 1870 and served as Noble Grand of the Odd Fellows.
For many years he was one of the Directors of the Williamson County Agricultural Association, and active in its affairs. He is an active member of the Methodist Church South, and served as Sunday School Superintendent for about twenty years from its organization, and in almost every other capacity except that of Pastor.
Hon. S. S. Vick organized the first Sunday School at the M.E. Church south in 1866 and remained its efficient superintendent for about twenty years.
In the fall of 1866 when the first church building was built Dr. A.N. Lodge, John Matthew Edwards and S. S. Vick were prime factors. Matthew Edwards, Zack Hudgens and S. S. Vick constituted the first board of trustees, the last named has served throughout the entire history of the church, and was still a prominent member on the board in 1904.
In 1892 the first building was sold, and under the pastorate of Rev. R. P. Howell the building on S. Market Street was erected at a cost of about $3,000.00, and dedicated free of debt, soon after it was completed by Dr. John Matthews, of St. Louis, Mo. J. M. Cline, S. S. Vick and A. L. Cline and others were prominently connected with the building enterprise.
The church owns a valuable and up-to-date parsonage, located on North Liberty Street. The church is free of debt, and is in a prosperous condition. John M. Dodd, A. L. Cline and S. S. Vick constitute the present board of trustees.
The census taken in 1870 finds Samuel and his wife Martha at age 43, he is serving as Master in Chancery for the County Court system. They claim a real estate value of $2,000 and personal estate at $500. They have five children still living at home, one son and four daughters ranging in age from 5 to 15.
In 1872, Samuel S. Vick opened up a drug store on the Public Square in the 600 block where F.W. Woolworths in later years was located. From that year, for the next 100 years there would be a drug store with the Vick name in it in Marion and many other cities.
On April 26, 1876, Samuel’s daughter Mary Alice married John M. Cline, who would in 1877 open up his own drug store on the square.
The 1880 census catches the couple in their early fifties with two children left at home, a 25 year old son and 15 year old daughter. Samuel is now serving as Justice of the Peace.
On July 1, 1885, Vick’s remaining daughter, Dora, married Dr. George W. Evans, a Marion doctor.
There is no 1890 census so we have to jump to 1900. Samuel lists no occupation, but it is known that he still has a business on the square. They are both in their early seventies and are living at 205 S. Market St. enjoying the fruits of a life’s labor. The census indicates that she had birthed 8 children and 6 were living, indicating a loss of two, not uncommon at all in those days.
Today their home is the location of the Bob Bradley Insurance House, but back in their day they were living directly across the street from the local Elks Club . The M.E. Church South was almost next door to their south and the Public Square and his business only one block away.
In the 1905 Souvenir History, it was written, “S. S. Vick is probably the oldest living continuous resident of Marion, and has been through a long life one of the most popular, active and useful of its citizens. Although nearly seventy-seven years old, he is rugged and sound, quick in action and stands straight on his legs. He reads without glasses, never lost but three teeth and has not an unsound one in his head. He is hardly ever sick and is always busy. He is certainly a well-preserved specimen of the products of the Blue Grass State, of which he is a native. He has always been a strong, influential, working friend of education, is useful and popular everywhere, and will die in the harness.”
On November 26, 1906, at age eighty, Martha Vick died and was buried in Rose Hill.
A 1907 Marion Business Directory ad points out that Samuel S. Vick’s drug store on the square is the place to buy your drugs, wall paper, stationary and toilet articles.
In 1908 Samuel gets married again at the age of 81. He marries a younger woman of 64 years named Mary. The maiden name of Mary is unknown to me now, but she was born in Illinois in 1844 and had previously had three children of her own.
The 1910 census catches Samuel at 83 with his new wife Mary, 66. He again lists no occupation but this time it’s fairly certain he is in retirement, as much as this type of man can be, anyway.
On March 9, 1916, Samuel came to his end and was buried the next day in Rose Hill Cemetery. He was listed as a retired merchant on his death record.
If having your name remain in people’s minds is any form of immortality, perhaps Samuel came closer than many. His surname in the form of either Vick or Cline-Vick is known and recognized by everyone growing up anywhere in the area over the next century.
(Data extracted from 1905 Souvenir book, WCHS; Glimpses at Life, Homer Butler; Ancestry.com; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 02/25/2013)