Jimmy Stewart, beloved City Commissioner of Marion for 11 years, was born on May 30, 1942 in Marion to Clayton Stewart and Lucille Cash.
He married Fran Mathis on June 2, 1962 in Creal Springs who preceded him in death on June 3, 2002.
Stewart spent decades working for the General Telephone Company as a repairman. 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
John Allen Hay was born in Marion on March 17, 1902, at 513 S. Market Street in the home of his grandparents, Romulus and Adelle Holland who built the home in 1875. John was the second child born to the marriage of Charles W. Hay (1873-1967) and Elizabeth “Bess” Holland.
John’s mother, Bess Holland, died in 1908 when he was only six years old and the situation was reflected in the 1910 census. His grandfather, Romulus Holland, owner of the home on S. Market, was 64 and a salesman for a coal oil distributor. John’s father, Charles W. Hay, owned a shoe store at 304 Public Square, next to the First National Bank and was a widower, 37 years of age. Continue reading
Archibald T. Benson, first president of the town of Marion and organizer of several churches in Williamson County, Illinois area, was born in December 10, 1816 in Springfield, Tennessee. He was the son of William Carroll and Bethany Spiller Benson, early settlers and donors of the land for the city of Marion. Bethany was the daughter of Warrington King and Leannah Nichols/Nicholson Spiller. He married Julia Ann Bower on December 17, 1844. Julia Ann was born in 1824 and died in 1901 in Marion. Continue reading
The City Election
During a Day of Quiet and Peace Temperance People Score a Victory
The contesting forces, saloon and anti-saloon, met and measured swords in this city Tuesday. The contest was exceedingly quiet and fell short the full vote, considerable, but resulted in a victory for the temperance ticket. The result was a surprise in more ways than one; however, many will say, “I told you so.”
For some time past the saloon party has been in power and well-fortified, but owing to the open violation of the law and conduct exceedingly bad Continue reading