Category Archives: Businesses

Marion Businesses

Marion Timeline 1954-2016

Posted on by September 25, 2024

In the process of creating an extensive article about the Robert L. Butler administration (1963-2018) a few years back I searched through the Southern Illinoisan newspaper archives back to the late 1950’s and took note of significant events that occurred … Continue reading →

City Scavenger

Posted on by August 10, 2018

” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]One city government position that we don’t appear to have seen in Marion since the 1950’s was that of City Scavenger. The job was an appointed position and according to Marion’s Laws and Ordinances for the … Continue reading →

Phillips, William H. 1846-1913, Alderman, Wagon maker, Civil War Vet

Posted on by July 1, 2014

William Harper Phillips, Marion alderman, wagon maker, implement dealer and Confederate officer, was born in Clarksville, Mecklenburg County, Virginia in July 1846.  He was the son of Robert Allen Phillips (1816-1879) and Caroline Leneve (1825) who married in Mecklenburg County December 21, 1840. 

In the 1860 census, William’s father, Robert, was a 43 year old wheelwright with real estate valued at $490.  His mother, Caroline, was 38 years old.  Everyone in the family was born in Virginia and they were living in Mecklenburg County, Virginia near Clarksville.  William was 14 years old, living with his parents and four siblings:  Rosalie, Mary, Martha, and Pauline. Loney A. Yancey, 18, may be a relative or an indentured servant and was attending school; James Wiles, 17, an apprentice wheelwright, was also living with the family.  Continue reading →

Evans, Dr. George W. 1848-1913, Alderman and Medical Doctor

Posted on by June 29, 2014

George William Evans was the son of William Spratley Evans, M.D.  (1808-1904) and Martha Ann Moore (xxx-1924). He was born October 1, 1848 in Logan County, Kentucky. 

His father William S. Evans was the son of Benjamin Moseley Evans, a tailor of Murphysboro, North Carolina and was born July 18, 1808 in Southampton County, Virginia. His first wife was Mary J. Moore. They lived first in Henry County, Missouri and after three to five years they moved to Ashley, Washington County, Ill.  Two years later they moved to Marion, Illinois.  He graduated from Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati and studied under Dr. Beach of New York. He began his practice of medicine in 1846.  He was nearly 70 when he quit practicing medicine.  He was also a licensed preacher from an early age in Virginia. William Spratley Evans died on April 26, 1904. Continue reading →