James Anderson Cannon was born in Morton, Indiana not far from Indianapolis to Basil Cannon and Lavina Lowe on August 15, 1860. By the 1880 federal census the family was living at 119 Vantress St. in Washington, Indiana. His father, Basil 43, was working as a laborer as well as his three oldest sons in the home. Children present in the home were Columbus 21, James A. 19, William A., 17, Ulysses 13 Schulyer C. 8, and Jacob aged 9 months.
On January 11, 1886, James A. married Lucy Catharine Richardson in Davis, Indiana. Lucy was the daughter of Logan Richardson and Barbara Merritt and was born April 10, 1863.
When the 1900 federal census was taken, James 39 and Lucy 37 were living at 1507 Vincennes Avenue, in Washington City, Indiana and had one daughter, Keto aged 15. The couple owned their own home and James was employed as a policeman. Lucy indicated that they had birthed one child and one still living.
After the 1900 census was taken, James moved his family to Marion, Illinois where they were found living in the 1910 census. James 49 and Lucy 47 were living at 704 N. Fair Street in a home they owned. James was working as a coal miner and living with them were his daughter Keto 25 and her husband Simon Hedges aged 30. An article in the Carbondale Free Press in July 1910 reported that two Republican candidates running for sheriff in the primary were James A. Cannon and M.L. Duncan.
In 1912 and again in 1913, James was elected to serve as city alderman under first Mayor J.H. Burnett and then under George B. Calhoun. The 1912 council voted on Ordinance 40 which created a library board that would oversee the eventual creation of the Marion Carnegie Library.
By the time the 1920 federal census was taken the couple had purchased their permanent home at 704 N. McLaren Street. 59-year-old James was working as a coal loader in a mine. The couple had a live-in housekeeper, 13-year-old Vera Shambaugh.
Since his arrival in Marion, James appears to have taken active rolls not only in politics but union leadership and fraternal organizations as well. The local newspaper in February 1921 announced the candidacy of James A. Cannon on the upcoming Republican Primary to run for Supervisor of East Marion Township.
An article appearing in the Marion Semi-Weekly Leader in 1921 stated that as a Union rep the coal miners and the Marion Chamber of Commerce were litigating a complaint against the Coal Belt Railway over rising passenger rates. Miners relied considerably on the interurban railway to get to and from work. Another article in the same year announced the upcoming Annual Memorial Service to be held for members of the Monitor Lodge 236 of the Knights of Pythias, listing James as Master at Arms.
In February 1926, it was announced in the local papers that Cannon was a candidate to run for sheriff as a Republican. Part of his campaign was represented in an article written to the Marion Evening Post and published on April 6, 1926 which read as follows:
“To the Voters: I have been a laboring man and closely connected with the interest of organized labor in so far as labor could be organized in this country all of my life since arriving at a laboring age. I have represented organized labor in Marion and Williamson County for many years as scale committeeman of Sub District No. 10 of Illinois and on numerous occasions as delegate in the State and National Conventions of the United Mine Workers of America, besides serving in every capacity of the local unions of the U.M.W.A. to which I have belonged during the last quarter of a century.
I am an Odd Fellow, Elk, Eagle, Redman, Moose and Knight of Pythias and have been President of the Marion Trades Council three times and was twice president of the Williamson-Jackson County Labor Day Association.
My father was a soldier in the Civil War and his teaching during the days of my youth I hope, did not fall on barren soil and being now in the service of my fourth term as supervisor of East Marion Township I feel that all who believe in tolerance in politics, religion and personal rights together with law enforcement by the regularly constituted authorities as outlined and guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and the State of Illinois should vote for me for sheriff of Williamson County on the 13th of April in the Republican primary election to be held on that day. James A. Cannon”
Keep in mind that the county was still in the grip of the Ku Klux Klan, prohibition and gang warfare when this article was written. Cannon ended up losing to Oren Coleman who became the next sheriff.
Although, James never appears to have broken seriously through in politics, he obviously remained active in union leadership. An article found in the Daily Republican Register from Carmi reported in July 1928, James A. Cannon, former president of the union for Peabody No. 3, stated during contract negotiations following a strike. “Our men are willing to take a cut in wages to do away with the loafing machines and conveyors, our men want all the work, not just part of it.”
In the 1930 census, James then 69 and Lucy 67 was still employed as a coal loader for a mine. They were living in their home at 704 N. McLaren St. which they valued at $1,400. They had no radio, a question asked on the census.
Lucy Cannon passed away on November 23, 1935 at the age of 72 and was interred in the IOOF (Odd Fellows) Cemetery in Marion.
When the 1940 census was taken, 79-year-old James was finally retired living in his home on McLaren Street, living with him was his 52-year-old daughter Keto who oddly enough was listed as single.
On July 1, 1947, James passed away due to heart trouble at the age of 86, interment was with his wife in Oddfellows Cemetery in Marion.
Notes on Children:
Keto Cannon Hedges Culbreth, born March 17, 1885 in Indiana. Married Simone Hedges, then James Culbreth. She lived at 612 E. Jefferson St. at death and died in Marion Memorial Hospital on November 28, 1969. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion.
(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion Street Directories, Marion City Cemetery records, Carbondale Free Press, Marion Evening Post, Marion Daily Republican, Daily Republican Register (Carmi) and Marion Semi-Weekly Leader newspapers, FindaGrave.com, Ozment-Mitchell Funeral Home records, Indiana Marriage records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 3/30/2024)