Curtis Marion Norman was born on May 17, 1878 in Crab Orchard Township to Francis Marion Norman and Samantha Edwards. F.M. Norman was a Civil War veteran and part of the early families to settle Williamson County. The 1880 federal census located farmer F.M. 54 and Samantha 27 along with children William D. 20, James 18, Cynthia 13 and Curtis aged 2 living in Crab Orchard Township. William was working as a farm worker and James was working as a store clerk. Their father Francis, was on his second much younger wife, having originally married Martha Whitlock in 1845 and then remarrying to Samantha Edwards in 1873. Curtis’s father, F.M., died on July 31, 1897.

By the time the 1900 census was taken, widowed 47 year old Samantha had moved the family to live in Marion in a home she owned mortgage free. Living in the home with her was son Curtis 22 and her widowed sister, 51 year old Nancy J. Hall. Samantha listed herself as a farmer while Curtis was a miner. She indicated that she had birthed 3 children and 2 were still living.

In 1903, Curtis married Mettie Pulley here in Williamson County. Mettie was born July 2, 1878 and was the daughter of L.C. “Cass” Pulley and Lucy Angel. By 1907, Curtis and Mettie were listed in a Marion street directory as living at 1703 W. Main St. and he was working as a miner.

When the 1910 census was taken, 31 year old Curtis and 32 year old Mettie were living in a home they owned at 804 N. Logan Street in Marion. Curtis was working as a coal miner and they had 2 children in the home, Roy 5 and Leland 3. They had been married for 7 years and indicated that they had birthed 3 children and 3 were living. One child, Bernard was not listed but was born in March of this year.

In 1915, Curtis was elected as city alderman under Mayor Dausa D. Hartwell. It was in this administration that the city voted to buy its first city fire truck, a 20 HP International Harvester to be delivered in early 1916.

 In 1917 when Curtis filled out his WWI draft card, he was 40 years old and living at 804 N. Logan St. working as a miner. He was described as medium height, medium build, with blue eyes and black hair.

In the 1920 census, Curtis 41 and Mettie 41 were living at 804 N. Logan St. which they owned free of mortgage. In the home were Ray 14, Leland 12 Bernard 10 and Ruby aged 11 months. Also living with them was Curtis’s widowed mother, Samantha aged 68.

An article appeared in the Marion Semi Weekly Leader paper in 1921 noting that Curtis had found a certificate for 4 shares of the Carbondale & Shawneetown Railroad made out to his father, Francis Marion Norman and dated January 1, 1872 at his home on North State Street. That address was confirmed in a 1922 Marion street directory noting that he lived then at 1104 N. State St.

In 1924 an article in the paper noted that Curtis had been elected as a delegate from the Scranton Mine Local 2129 to represent them at the biennial convention of the United Mine Workers of America at Indianapolis, Indiana that year.

A 1927 city directory listed Curtis and his wife as living at 700 E. Carter St.

By the 1930 census, the family was living at 700 E. Carter St. which they owned free of mortgage and valued at $1,500. 51-year-old Curtis was working as a coal loader in a coal mine. The only child left in the home was 11-year-old daughter, Ruby.

When the 1940 census was taken, the couple were found living at 906 N. Logan Street paying $10 per month in rent. Curtis was 61 and listed himself as a janitor at a nursery school. Living in the home with the couple was their married daughter Ruby Malcom 21 who was working as a clerk at a variety store.

When Curtis filled out his WWII draft card in 1942 he was 62 years old, living at 906 N. Logan Street and was employed through the W.P.A. at the Veteran’s Hospital in Marion. His contact person was his son, Bernard. He was physically described as 5’ 7”, 152 lbs., blue eyes, grey hair and a light complexion.

Curtis died 3 years later in Marion on November 9, 1945. He was then survived by his wife Mettie and children, Ray and Leland Norman both of Chicago, Bernard of Marion and Mrs. Robert Malcom of Marion. One sister, Mrs. Elbert Baine and 6 grandchildren.

He had been a coal miner for 38 years and was a member of the David Herrin Lodge No. 1036 of the I.O.O.F. and member of the Christian Church. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion.

Mettie continued living in Marion and when the 1950 census was taken she was living at 802 N. Harper Street as a 71 year old widow. She died on September 5, 1955 and was buried with Curtis in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Notes on Children:

Ray Norman, born April 5, 1905 in Marion, married Rethel I. Williams on December 31, 1926, died March 26, 1985 in Mt. Vernon, worked for 25 years for the Chicago Transit Authority

Leland Norman, born November 19, 1906 in Marion, married a Josephine M., died October 1982 in River Grove, Illinois

Bernard Norman, born March 19, 1910 in Marion, married Tessie Craig on November 11, 1936, died July 3, 1987

Ruby N. Norman Malcom, born in 1919 in Marion, married Robert J. Malcom May 23, 1940 in Cape Girardeau, Mo, lived in Florida, traveled to Yokohama, Japan in 1956 and Germany in 1951, no record found on death.

(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion Street Directories, FindaGrave.com, Williamson County Marriage records, Social Security Death Records, Marion Daily Republican, Marion Weekly Leader, Marion Semi Weekly Leader, WWI and WWII Draft records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 4/27/2024)