Louis Edgar Meneese, who went by Edgar, was born in Pulley’s Mill on May 15, 1883 to Isaac Lunsford Meneese and Susan Elmira Meneese. When the 1900 federal census was taken, the family was living in Southern Township in Williamson County on a farm that they owned free of mortgage. Isaac 50 and Susan 47 had two sons living in the home, Edgar 17 and Floyd aged 7.
On April 26, 1903, Edgar married Mollie Minerva Hudgens in Johnson County. Mollie’s parents were James Marshall Hudgens and Cynthia Ann Foster and she was likely born in or near Goreville, Illinois. On November 19, 1885.
When the 1910 census was taken, Edgar & Mollie were living on a rented farm in Southern Township. Edgar was 26, Mollie was 23 and Mollie reported that they had birthed no children after 7 years of marriage.
By 1918, when Edgar filled out his WWI draft record the couple had moved into Marion to live in a rental home at 812 W. Maplewood St. Edgar was then working as a laborer for the Southern Illinois Gas Company whose office was located in the SE corner of the Marion public square.
In the 1920 federal census, Edgar 36 and Mollie 34 were still living in the same rental house, but Edgar had begun working for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company (C&EI) as a section foreman. A 1922 Marion Street directory indicated that they were still at the same location and same job.
It was noted in an article printed in the Marion Semi-Weekly Leader that a large Baptist Sunday School Convention was to be held at Grange Hall in 1921 with J.W. McKinney, county president, as the main speaker. It was also stated that W.E. Gulledge was the township president while Edgar Meneese was the township secretary.
It also became clear in an article in the June 1925 Marion Evening Post that Edgar was active in the local David Herrin Lodge #1036 I.O.O.F. in Marion as recording secretary and also later mentioned as a degree captain for the lodge.
In the April 1929 elections, Edgar ran on the Democratic ticket for the position of Assistant Supervisor for West Marion Township and won, he also later served on committees for the Williamson County Board of Supervisors.
When the 1930 census was taken, 46 year old Edgar and 43 year old Mollie were renting a home at 816 W. Maplewood in which they paid $15 per month. Edgar was still working as a section foreman for the railroad.
Edgar won election to the Marion City Council in 1935 under Mayor Harry L. Crisp but apparently resigned his position within a month of the election. According to an article in the Marion Weekly Leader written in 1945, the council did not replace him and continued on as a four man board.
The census record from 1940 indicated that it is likely that Edgar and Mollie moved from Marion shortly after the election which may be a clue to the reason for his resignation from the city council. The census revealed that Edgar was still working his same job for the C&EI railroad but in West Frankfort instead. The couple now in their fifties were living at 1502 E. Elm Street. In the home with the couple were Mollie’s nephew and niece, Mary Lou Hudgens 16 and Robert Lee Hudgens who was working as a cab driver. Edgar reported that he had worked 48 hours in the previous week and had worked 52 weeks in the previous year which had earned him $1,728 in income that year. Education levels noted in the census were Edgar 8th grade, Molly 8th grade, Mary Lou 1 year of high school and Robert Lee 4 years of high school.
In 1942, when Edgar filled out his WWII draft record he was 58 years old and was still working for the railroad. He was described as 5’ 9”, 160 lbs., with blue eyes, dark hair going grey and a ruddy complexion.
In May 1946, the David Herrin Lodge #1036 I.O.O.F. held a mortgage burning celebration in which the property at 105 N. Jackson Street in Marion was paid off. Edgar was one of several members who received a 25 year membership jewel. Another article in 1954 indicated that Edgar was a Marshal for the West Frankfort lodge of the I.O.O.F.
In the 1950 census, 66 year old Edgar and 64 year old Mollie were living in a home at 1008 E. Elm Street in West Frankfort and Edgar reported still working a 40 hour week for the railroad. He retired from the railroad in 1952 after having worked for them for 47 years.
Edgar passed away in his home at 601 E. 5th Street in West Frankfort on December 1, 1958. He had been ill for three years. He was a member of the David Herrin Lodge 1036 I.O.O.F. of Marion and the Northern Baptist Church of West Frankfort. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion.
Mollie passed away on March 25, 1959 and was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion. She was active in the Rebekah’s and the couple had no children.
Notes on children:
There were no children from this marriage.
(Sources: Federal Census records, WWI and WWII Draft records, Marion and West Frankfort Street Directories, the Southern Illinoisan, Marion Evening Post, Marion Weekly Leader, Marion Semi-Weekly Leader, FindaGrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 06/29/2024)