Category Archives: Businesses

Marion Businesses

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 →

Holland, Caleb T. 1845-1924, Alderman & Civil War Vet, Duncan and Holland Lumber

Posted on by June 27, 2014

Caleb Tarleton Holland was born Jul 28, 1845 in White Day, Virginia (West Virginia after the 1860’s) to Jacob Holland (1816-1875) and Emily Tarleton (1819-1857).   Jake was born in Morgantown, West Virginia and died in Harrisburg, Illinois. 

Caleb’s parents, Jacob and Emily, were married in Monongalia County, West Virginia Dec 6, 1837.  They had six children: Mollie, Cordelia (1840), Brice (1842-1922), Caleb, Romulus D. “Tobe” (1847), Evaline (1849) all born in West Virginia. Emily died in 1857 and Jake remarried to Sophronia Bogus (1825) in Virginia. They had five children:  Lucien (1859), Bruce (1861), Idella (1863), Guy (1865) and Zera (1868). Continue reading →

Duncan, James H. 1840-1901, Merchant, Alderman, Sheriff, J.H. Duncan & Co., Duncan House

Posted on by June 23, 2014

Duncan James HJames Hartwell Duncan, five term Marion alderman, three term county sheriff and Marion merchant, was born in 1840, the son of George W. Duncan (1817-1878) and Rosey A. Henson (1812-xxxx). James appears to have favored his middle name of Hartwell.

In the 1850 census, his parents, George and Rosey, had 7 children, 10 years of age and under: James H., 10; Mary A. and Nancy J., twins, 8; Elizabeth F., 6; Viola, 5.; Narcissa, 2; and George W., who was only a few months old. They were living in Williamson County, Illinois. Continue reading →

Kern, Charles M. 1837-1906, Marion Trustee & Merchant, Young and Kern Dry Goods

Posted on by June 12, 2014

Charles Kern 1904Charles M. Kern of Marion was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia on July 18, 1837, the son of James and Mary Goosman Kern, natives of West Virginia, of German and French stock respectively.

In 1860 Charles was living in Monongalia County, West Virginia near Morgantown.  His parents, James and Mary Kern had five children at home: Charles, 23; Margaret, 21; Francis, 17; Caroline, 14 and George, 11.

Charles was reared in his native county, and was married and engaged in milling there.  In 1863 he went west, located at Marion, Illinois and engaged in mercantile pursuits.  Continue reading →

Denison, Dr. Edward L. 1835-1900, Physician, Legislator and Marion Alderman

Posted on by August 30, 2023

 

Dr. E.L. Denison by horse in front of his office in Marion, Illinois ca 1880. Unknown Goodall standing on walk. Photo courtesy of the Williamson County Museum

Dr. E.L. Denison by horse in front of his office in Marion, Illinois ca 1880. Unknown Goodall standing on walk. Photo courtesy of the Williamson County Museum

Dr. Edward L. Denison, physician, legislator and Marion Alderman, was born August 16, 1835, in Senaca, New York.  He was the son of Edward L. Denison (1789-1871) and Eveline Hitchcock (1808-1886) and the brother of prosperous Marion businessman and Mayor, Charles H. Denison.

Edward had four brothers and sisters:  David Delome Denison (1827-1864), Charles Hoton Denison (1837-1908), Harriet Newel Denison (1840) and Amelia Emma Denison (1843). Charles H. married Mary Elizabeth Bundy Mar. 21, 186x; Harriet married George A. Seaver June 20, 185x, and Amelia married J. D. Walden on October 24, 1864.

Edward L., the father, moved the family to Huron County, Ohio in 1844 and in the 1850 census the family was living in Ruggles, Ashland County, Ohio. All four of their children were born in Ohio.  He then moved the family on to McHenry County, Illinois in 1854.  Edward L., the son and our subject, attended college at Marengo Seminary and moved to Southern Illinois in 1857. He taught school in Jackson, Union and Williamson Counties and studied medicine. Continue reading →