Andrew Raymond “Pat” Douglas was born February 28, 1900 in Brookport, Illinois to Joseph Douglas and Evaline Owens. By the time the 1910 census was taken, the family had moved to Brushy Township in Saline County where they lived in a rented home and his father operated a store. In that census, Joseph 40 and Evaline 39 reported that they had birthed 9 children with 7 still living and all were present in the home including 10 year old Andrew.

In 1918 when Andrew registered for the WWII draft, he was 18 years old and reported living with his parental family at 906 N. Court Street while working in freight for the Rheinhart-Smith Wholesale Grocer Company in Marion. He was physically described as tall, with a medium build, blue eyes and brown hair.

When the 1920 census was taken, his father Joseph 49 and mother Eva M. 46 were living in a rental home at 605 W. Boulevard Street. His father was working as a carpenter while Andrew worked as a laborer. The house would have been pretty crowded since it was occupied by Joseph and Eva, along with 6 children including Andrew and one of Joseph’s brother-in-laws.

On May 22, 1920, Andrew married Bessie Geer. Bessie was born February 3, 1901 in Mason Town, Pa. the daughter of Alonzo and Matilda Geer. Shortly after their marriage, in 1922, the couple were found to be living with Bessie’s parents at 902 W. White Street with Andrew working as a carpenter.

When the 1930 federal census was taken, Andrew 30 and Bessie 29 were still found to be living with Bessie’s parents at 902 W. White. Bessie’s father Alonzo Geer was 72 and her mother, Matilda Geer was 66. The home they lived in was owned by them and valued at $1,000. Alonzo was working as a contractor drilling wells while Andrew claimed to be a brick mason and picked up his father-in-law’s skills as a well driller as well. The household at the time consisted of Alonzo and his wife, their daughter and son-in-law, Bessie and Andrew, their divorced son Harry H. 41 and two granddaughters name Lyla Mae Douglas 7 and Patsy Irene Douglas aged 3.

By 1935, Andrew and Bessie continued living in the home at 902 W. White and Alonzo had moved to 1104 W. White Street.

When the 1940 federal census was taken, Andrew 40 and Bessie 39 Were living in a home they owned at 909 W. White Street and valued it at $2,000. Andrew listed his occupation as a contractor and carpenter doing private work. He noted that he had only worked 24 weeks out of the year in 1939 and had earned $1,800. Children in the home were Lila M. 16, Patsy Mae 13 and Albert R. aged 9. It was noted that Andrew had completed an education level of 8^th grade while Bessie had completed 6th grade.

By 1941, Andrew and Bessie moved to a home they would stay in for decades located at 711 N. Vicksburg St. In directories from this period, Andrew’s occupation appeared to toggle back and forth between brick mason and carpenter perhaps dictated by the depression and available work.

When Andrew filled out his WWII draft record in 1942 in Marion he was 41 years old and working as a brick layer. He was physically described as 5’ 11” tall, 155 lbs., had blue eyes, brown hair and a light brown complexion, undoubtedly from working in the sun.

In the 1950 census, Andrew was 50 while Bessie was 49, they were living in their home at 711 N. Vicksburg St. Andrew was listed as working as a well drilling contractor. They had one child left in the home, Allen Ray aged 19 and a helper at well drilling.

Ads appeared in the Southern Illinois newspaper throughout 1953 with A.R. Douglas from Marion advertising water wells, farm wells and commercial wells up to 20’ in diameter.

In the 1959 Marion city election, Andrew was elected to the city council as commissioner under Mayor Robert Cooksey. He would end up being the streets and alleys commissioner till the end of his term in the spring of 1963. It was noted during the election that he resigned his job as parking commission meter patrolman and would resume his job as a building contractor.

On August 10, 1960, his wife, Bessie, passed away at Marion Memorial Hospital after several days of illness. She was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

In the 1961 primary to the county elections, Andrew tried running on the Republican ticket for Williamson County Treasurer but failed to get elected.

Andrew again married to his second wife, Emma Florine Jeter, on September 1, 1961 in Marion. Emma was born June 28, 1915 to Rosco Jeter and Florence Geer.

In 1962 it was noted that he had resigned his position as Republican committeeman.

Andrew continued working as a general contractor and worked for Williamson County as a highway foreman for four years until his retirement in 1973.

Andrew died on August 23, 1975 at the Marion Memorial Hospital. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Marion, a 50 year member of the Fellowship Masonic Lodge No. 89, Marion Chapter No. 100 Royal Arch Masons, Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem Noel Shrine No. 99, Leroy A. Chapter No. 350, The Sword of Bunker Hill Theodore Roosevelt Order No. 14, also of Marion, Bricklayers Union of Marion and David Herrin Odd Fellows Lodge 1036 of Marion.

A sister Letha Lang, and a brother Lawrence, preceded him in death.

Survivors are his wife; two daughters, Lila Campbell of Westlake, Calif. and Patsy Connell of Marion; a son, Allen of Marion; two sisters, Elizabeth Zoeller and Laura Belle Kerr, both of Marion; a brother, Andrew of Dahlgren; eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Andrew’s second wife, Emma Florine, died on August 24, 2005. Her working career was with General Telephone Company till her retirement in the 1960’s. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Notes on Children:

Lila Mae Douglas Campbell, born April 2, 1923, married Paul Camp in Sept 1943 in Marion, later remarried to Duane Campbell, died July 5, 2005

Patsy Douglas Connell, born ca 1926/27, married Robert “Dog” Connell October 3, 1947, died February 19, 2020

Allen Ray Douglas, born January 16, 1931, married Sylvia Sue Samuel February 15, 1958 in Johnston City. Remarried to Sharon Joram Middleton in 1976. Served in US Navy during Korean War. Managed Ozark Airlines at the Williamson County Airport (now Veteran’s Airport). Passed away on January 26, 2019.

(Sources: Federal census records, WWI and WWII draft records, Marion city street directories, Marion City Cemetery records, Marion Weekly Leader, Southern Illinoisan, Marion Daily Republican newspapers. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 8/30/2024)