The Goodspeed version of the book covering the history of Williamson County was officially called, “The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties” and subtitled “From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Sundry and Interesting Biographical Sketches, Notes, Reminiscences, Etc., Etc.” and was published in 1887 by the Goodspeed Publishing. Continue reading
Category Archives: County
If you are even the slightest bit interested in the early history of the county and the towns and villages contained within, this volume is an absolute gem that has intrigued county citizens for over a hundred years. Compiled in 1904 and published in 1905 by J.F. Wilcox, the “souvenir book man”, from the LeCrone Press in Effingham, Illinois, the book was a collaboration of Wilcox and numerous local citizens who dug deep and gathered an amazing and impressive volume. Continue reading
Williamson County Illinois Sesquicentennial History
This large volume was produced in conjunction with the county’s 150th Sesquicentennial celebration in 1989. The book was created and designed by Stan J. Hale, associate professor of English at John A. Logan College and was copyrighted in 1993. It stands as a similar, modern counterpart to an earlier treatise done on the county in the 1905 Souvenir History of Williamson County which has proved invaluable. Continue reading
Pioneer Folks and Places, An Historic Gazetteer of Williamson County
By Barbara Barr Hubbs
This very informative book was published in commemoration of the county’s centennial on February 28, 1939. The copyright was renewed in 1966 and it was republished again in 1979 and is available in reprint through the Williamson County Historical Society’s book store. Continue reading
Ray Miller, teacher, principal, county officer, and a second generation Fair Board member, was born on April 26, 1891 in Williamson County to John Goodall Miller and Mary Ellen Krantz on a farm in Southern Township.
Nine years after Ray was born, according to the 1900 federal census, the family was living in Southern Precinct on the Miller family farm which they owned free of mortgage. Southern Township/Precinct starts just north of the Marion City Lake and included the villages of Hudgens and Chamness, extending south to Pulley’s Mill where Johnson County starts. Ray’s parents were farmers and were both in their mid-30’s. Children present in the home at the time were Ray aged 9 and daughter, Jessie M. aged 6. Ray’s mother indicated that she had birthed three children with two surviving indicating the loss of one child already in their marriage. Continue reading