Mayors of Marion, Illinois 1839-2015
See also, City Officials
1839 Williamson County formed
The town of Marion was formed when Williamson County split off from Franklin County and a new county seat of government was formed. No official town government existed.
The town of Marion was first chartered by the Act of the Legislature approved February 24, 1841 but it seems there was no organization or election of officers under this act
1841-1847 No elections held
The original charter of Marion was repealed on February 15, 1847
1847-1865 No legal government
The town was chartered again by act of the legislature approved on February 16, 1865. An election was held in April 1865.
Presidents of Marion
1865-1866 Rev. A. T. Benson
1866-1869 R. M. Hundley
1869-1873 G. W. Goddard
1873-1874 W. N. Mitchell
After the adoption of a new state constitution in 1870, the Legislature passed a general act for the incorporation and government of all cities, towns and villages, and under this act, Marion became incorporated as a city under the general law of the state in April 1873. An election was held in April 1874.
Mayors of Marion
1874-1875 Joseph W. Hartwell
1875-1876 W. R. Hall
1876-1877 G. W. Goddard
1877-1879 J. C. Jackson
1879-1883 L. A. Goodard
1883-1887 J. C. Jackson
1887-1889 Brice Holland
1889-1891 W. T. Davis
1891-1893 Shannon Holland
1893-1895 James W. Westbrook
1895-1897 John H. Burnett
1897-1899 Brice Holland
1899-1901 Thomas J. Youngblood
1901-1903 W. H. Bundy
1903-1907 Charles H. Denison
1907-1911 J. C. Mitchell
1911-1913 John B. Burnett
1913-1915 George B. Calhoun
1915-1917 D. D. Hartwell
The City of Marion changed from the Aldermanic to Commissioner type government in 1917
1917-1919 E. B. Jackson
1919-1923 E. Lewis
1923-1927 J. H. Clarida
1927-1931 E. M. Thurmond
1931-1935 C. H. Whitcomb
1935-1939 Harry L. Crisp
1939-1943 Harry L. Crisp
1943-1947 Harry L. Crisp
1947-1951 Harry R. Rodd
1951-1955 William Shannon
1955-1959 Robert L. Cooksey
1959-1963 Robert L. Cooksey
1963-1967 Robert L. Butler
1967-1971 Robert L. Butler
1971-1975 Robert L. Butler
1975-1979 Robert L. Butler
1979-1983 Robert L. Butler
1983-1987 Robert L. Butler
1987-1991 Robert L. Butler
1991-1995 Robert L. Butler
1995-1999 Robert L. Butler
1999-2003 Robert L. Butler
2003-2007 Robert L. Butler
2007-2011 Robert L. Butler
2011-2015 Robert L. Butler
2015-2018 Robert L. Butler, Butler retired in Jan 2018 and term was filled out by Anthony Rinella
2018-2019 Anthony Rinella
2019-2023 Mike Absher
(Reprinted from Memories of Marion, IL by Violet Lee Carter Grisham. M977.3993 GRI Marion Carnegie Library, Marion, IL 62959; originally posted online by Thomas Wimberly)