Jerome Bonaparte Calvert, Marion lawyer and city attorney, was born on October 12, 1846 in Williamson County, Illinois, the son of Napolean “Bone” Bonaparte (1822-1882) and Sarah Reynolds (1823-xxxx ) Calvert.
His father, Napoleon B. Calvert, was the son of John N. Calvert who traveled from Alabama to Massac and later to Pope and Williamson County. In 1845 he was one of the first elders when a Presbyterian Church was organized in Marion. Continue reading
William Wallace Clemens, lawyer, judge, bank officer and Marion city Trustee, was born on a farm in Crittenden County, Kentucky on September 29, 1839, the son of Jonathan R. Clemens. His father was born May 24, 1811 in Livingston County, Kentucky and died February 23, 1862 in Crittenden County. William’s mother, Minerva Robertson, was born October 21, 1815 in Livingston County, Kentucky and died there on Jan 4, 1907. Continue reading
From the time I first compiled an article on the formation of the Marion Elks Lodge #800 in Marion a couple of years ago, I was intrigued with the statement that they were occupying the old Dunaway Opera House. The Dunaway building was located where the old F.W. Woolworth building is located in the 600 block on the west side of the public square. Since then, I have kept my eyes open for clues as to some history on the building and finally found its origins. Continue reading
Samuel Lum Dunaway, Marion businessman, civic leader, WWI veteran and grandson of early county pioneer Sam Dunaway, was born on April 12, 1895, in Marion to Thomas Dunaway and Emma Benson.
Sam descended from one of the families that lived at Old Bainbridge, the village that served as the seat of county government, west of Marion, prior to creation of the county seat in Marion.
His father, Thomas Dunaway, retired Marion merchant, who died in 1921, was the son of Samuel Dunaway, one of the settlers of Bainbridge. Thomas Dunaway was born near that pioneer village in 1848, the last of 15 children in the family. Continue reading
Robert Lee Cooksey was born in Marion on June 5, 1919 to the late Erva Cooksey (1882-1968) and Harriet Jackson. Bob attended Marion schools, but like many youths of his day and time, only achieved an eighth grade education and focused more on job experience and survival. Continue reading
