Willis H. Hendrickson was born in Marion, Illinois to Hartwell Hendrickson and Nannie Allen on October 9, 1874. His family came from two pioneering families. His father, Hartwell, was an early mercantile businessman and livestock dealer, served as circuit clerk in 1884 and was a veteran of the Civil War serving in Co. E of the 60th Illinois Infantry and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic veterans’ group. His mother, Nannie Allen, was noted to be the first baby girl born in Marion and was the daughter of Willis Allen. He was elected to the Illinois legislature in 1837, served as state senator in 1847 and was a congressman in 1850 and 1952, later serving as Williamson County State’s Attorney and also as a circuit judge up to his death.
In the 1880 federal census, 30-year-old Harwell was working as a livestock dealer and living in Marion with his wife Nannie 36 and two children, Gussie 7 and Willis aged 5. When his father served as Marion Postmaster in 1889, Willis worked as an assistant postmaster and clerk at the Marion post office.
An article in The Leader newspaper from August 1894 indicated that Willis had been charged and found guilty of disturbing the peace in Marion. Another article in The Leader paper from August 1897 stated that Willis Hendrickson had just returned home after an absence of several months spent visiting native Indians in Minnesota.
A record from the Veteran’s Administration indicated that Willis entered military service during the Spanish-American War on May 2, 1899. Later census records confirm that service.
A news article dated May 1900, reported that Willis of Marion had recently moved to Coulterville, Illinois where he had met Mabel M. Burns. It stated that they went to St. Louis to see the Dewey parade and concluded to go to Belleville, Illinois and get married. Willis was 25 and Mabel was 19 and from Coulterville. This marriage clearly didn’t take because in 1907, Willis remarried for the second time to Clara Davis. Clara grew up in the Pittsburg area of the county and was born on September 1, 1876 to Thomas Davis and Elizabeth Ann Pulley.
When the 1910 federal census was taken, Willis 35 and Clara 34 had two daughters living in their rental home at 1108 E. Main Street in Marion, Edith aged 13 and Mary A. 11 months. Willis was noted to be working as a rural mail carrier. If one does the math it becomes obvious that the daughter, Edith, came from seemingly out of nowhere. Clara stated in the census that she had birthed two children and in fact there were two daughters in the home. Looking back to the 1900 census records, Clara was listed as single and living with her parents, but indicated that she had birthed one child. That child named Edith, was listed in the same family as a granddaughter, so Edith is definitely Clara’s, but from an earlier relationship. It was also noted in the 1910 census that Willis had been married 2 times and Clara only once.
August 1910 brought on legal problems for Willis when he had three criminal cases brought against him in the same month. One charge was brought by William Doran, who stated that while Willis was serving as his rural mail carrier, Doran gave Willis $4.44 to purchase a money order for him. The purchase apparently never happened, thus creating a charge of embezzlement. Two more cases were filed at the same time both by the same person. Willis was charged with obtaining money under false pretenses when he attempted to sell two different guns to an individual named Moran Francis for $7.50 each. Unfortunately, one of the guns belonged to Hester Davis and another to D.T. Hartwell. Willis was detained in February of 1911 on all three charges. Unfortunately, the outcome of all of these cases is unknown due to a lack of records.
When Willis filled out his WW1 draft record in 1918 he was 43 years old, living at 707 S. Buchanan St. in Marion and working as a laborer for the City of Marion. He was described as medium height, medium build, with grey eyes and dark hair.
In the 1920 census, 45 year old Willis and 43 year old Clara were still living in a rental home at 707 S. Buchanan Street but Willis had turned to working in the coal mines. Clara’s daughter Edith had married off in 1917 leaving only their one daughter Mary Allen aged 10 at home.
In 1926, Willis ran successfully for the elected position of town clerk in the East Marion Township. He was also acknowledged as a Spanish American War veteran in 1928 during Memorial Day services at Goddard Chapel.
It is apparent, that Willis had a decent voice since he was noted in the paper numerous times as being a solo singer or part of a quartet singing at funerals and serving as pallbearer many times as well. He also made the paper a number of times for his activities and involvement in the First United Methodist Church in Marion.
In 1930, Willis ran for the Republican precinct committeeman in East Marion Township and in the same year he was elected to serve as a trustee for the local chapter of the Samuel Wright Camp of Spanish American veterans.
In the 1930 census, 53 year old Willis and 52 year old Clara were living at 404 E. Marion Street paying $20 per month for rent. Willis was working as a job picker in a coal mine and they had one daughter in the home, Mary A. 20.
In 1933 and 1934, Willis attempted to run for the Marion School Board but appears to have lost both times but did remain an officer with the board of the First Methodist Church.
In the 1935 Marion city election, Willis was elected to the city council as Accounts and Finance Commissioner under Mayor Harry L. Crisp serving through 1939. When the 1939 election rolled around Homer Butler was elected as commissioner but couldn’t complete his term due to his election to the Illinois General Assembly in 1943. Willis Hendrickson was chosen to serve out Butler’s term to 1947.
In 1945 and again in 1946, Mayor Crisp had health issues that caused his absence at council meetings, so Willis was chosen to serve as acting Mayor in his stead at council meetings. One of the many issues the council considered in this period was the safety issues related to the gaping pit where the Goodall Hotel used to stand on the East side of the square. The hotel had burned down in 1943 and left a chasm next to the sidewalk.
In the 1940 census, 66 year old Willis, and 63 year old Clara had purchase their rental home at 404 E. Marion and valued it at $1,000. Willis did not list an occupation at this point so he appears to be retired. Their 31 year old daughter, Mary A., is living with them. Education levels were listed as Willis 3 years of high school, Clara 2nd grade, and Mary A. 4 years of high school.
By the 1950 census, 75 year old Willis and 73 year old Clara are retired and living in their home on E. Marion Street with their daughter Mary A. who is now 40 years old and working as a stenographer for Giles Armature Company, a manufacturer of auto parts.
Willis Hendrickson passed away at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Marion on September 2, 1956 at the age of 81 years and 10 months. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery.
Clara Hendrickson died on October 10, 1966 and was buried in Maplewood Cemetery.
Notes on Children:
Edith Hendrickson Horsley, born September 6, 1896 likely in the Pittsburg area, married Luther Horsely in Marion on November 29, 1917. He died in 1963 and she passed on April 4, 1966. She was the daughter of Clara and the step daughter of Willis. The father is unknown.
Mary Allen Hendrickson Kelly, born about 1909 likely in Marion, she married Paul Kelly on September 19, 1942 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was known to have graduated from Marion Township High School and worked for C.I.P.S., the local power company. Couldn’t find further details on her.
(Sources: Federal census records, WWI draft records, Veteran’s Administration database, Southern Illinoisan, The Leader, Marion Evening Post, Marion Weekly Leader, Marion Daily Republican, Marion City Street directories, Williamson County Marriage records, FindaGrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 6/28/2024)