Donald Houston Bethel was born November 12, 1919, in Ozark, Illinois, in Johnson County, the son of Jewell Guy Bethel Sr. (1896-1970) and Elma Mae Houston (1900-1991).
Although his obituary states that he was born in Ozark, Illinois only one month after his birth he and his parents were listed in the 1920 census as living at Harrisburg in Saline County. Continue reading
Eight Marionites brought claim to the Williamson County seat with the only state championship brought back to Marion in 1921.
The eight were Owen Stotlar, John Slater, Norman Belford, Raymond Biggs, Willis Stone, William Wallace and Luke Johnson and Ray Robinson. Continue reading
James A. Felts was born March 18, 1862, in Lake Creek Township, about four miles north of Marion to David Jocham Felts and Jane Binkley, both of Tennessee.
James grew up on his father’s farm near Johnston City. In the 1880 census, James was 18 and listed as a farmer. His mother had died and his father remarried to Susan D. Herrington. Continue reading
Albert Raymond Cagle was born near Mount Pleasant in Union County on May 29, 1902 to the late James G. Cagle (1869-1959) and Flora Bishop (1873-1959). Continue reading
In the early days, all the newspaper printing in Marion was done primarily in one small section in the southeast corner of the square known as the 1000 block. Over the years, it housed the Egyptian Press, Marion Evening Post, Marion Evening Herald, Marion Leader Publishing and the Illinois Baptist Association Printing. Continue reading
