Hall, Wiley W. 1834-1883, Marion Trustee and Physician

Johnson CountyWiley W. Hall, three term Marion trustee and practicing physician, was born in 1834 to John Westley Hall (1797-1855) and Martha Denton (1802-xxxx) in Tennessee .

In 1850, Wiley was 16 years old living in Cocke County, Tennessee with his family.  There were seven other children in the family: Margaret, John W., Matilda, Abigail, Rachel, James N. and Royal. His father, John, was a Methodist clergyman.  Hamilton Kyle, 21, was living with them and had no occupation listed, but was likely a farm hand. Continue reading

Calvert, Joseph L. 1824-1909, Marion Alderman and Merchant

Joseph Lewis “Uncle Lew” Calvert, four term Marion Alderman, was the son of John Newton Calvert and Cynthia Simpson. His grandparents were John Calvert and Gracey Newton and William Simpson and Mary “Polly” Jones. 

Joseph’s mother, Cynthia, was born before 1800 in Vienna; she died before 1840.  She and John Newton were married on February 26, 1818. Joseph L. had several siblings:  Silas M., Napoleon B., William S., John Bunyon, George Marion, Martha C., Thomas A., and Nancy C. Calvert. Five of the siblings died before the age of 7. Continue reading

Durall TV Center

Durall TV Company was begun when Maurice Durall and Hartley Grisham began putting up television antennas on the roofs of houses in 1951. At that time television reception was very poor with a lot of snowy and blank television screens.  Antennas were about 48 feet high from the roof. Only St. Louis stations were available and that was beyond the range of most antennas but neighbors still congregated nightly in the homes that had television sets.  Continue reading

Goddard, James T. 1817-1886, Merchant

James Thomas Goddard, at one time, one of the wealthiest men in the county, was born about 1817 in Virginia. He was the son of James Goddard, born November 12, 1789 in Henry County, Virginia and died January 9, 1878, and Mariah Davis (1790 – 1845). James and Mariah had other children: Martha A., John, Mary E., Wesley, Melinda L. and Mary Goddard.  Continue reading