Marion Illinois Properties on the National Register of Historic Places

Did you know that there are five properties in Williamson County that are currently listed on the National Register of Historic places and all five of them are located in Marion, Illinois? The applications for all five are on file at the Williamson County Historical Society Museum located at 105 S. Van Buren Street, which is one of the five places listed. Continue reading

Calvert, Napoleon B. 1822-1882, Alderman & Builder

Napoleon Bonaparte “Bone” Calvert was born on September 18, 1822. He was the son of John N. Calvert, a pioneer Presbyterian minister, who traveled from Alabama to Massac and later to Pope and then Williamson County. Napoleon had the following siblings: Silas M., Joseph Lewis, William Simpson, John Bunyan, George Marion, Martha Caroline, Thomas A. and Nancy Clementine Calvert. Several children died as infants or young children. Continue reading

Hall, Wiley W. 1834-1883, Marion Trustee and Physician

Johnson CountyWiley W. Hall, three term Marion trustee and practicing physician, was born in 1834 to John Westley Hall (1797-1855) and Martha Denton (1802-xxxx) in Tennessee .

In 1850, Wiley was 16 years old living in Cocke County, Tennessee with his family.  There were seven other children in the family: Margaret, John W., Matilda, Abigail, Rachel, James N. and Royal. His father, John, was a Methodist clergyman.  Hamilton Kyle, 21, was living with them and had no occupation listed, but was likely a farm hand. Continue reading

Calvert, Joseph L. 1824-1909, Marion Alderman and Merchant

Joseph Lewis “Uncle Lew” Calvert, four term Marion Alderman, was the son of John Newton Calvert and Cynthia Simpson. His grandparents were John Calvert and Gracey Newton and William Simpson and Mary “Polly” Jones. 

Joseph’s mother, Cynthia, was born before 1800 in Vienna; she died before 1840.  She and John Newton were married on February 26, 1818. Joseph L. had several siblings:  Silas M., Napoleon B., William S., John Bunyon, George Marion, Martha C., Thomas A., and Nancy C. Calvert. Five of the siblings died before the age of 7. Continue reading

Tippy, Oliver S. 1850–1931, Marion Alderman, Goodall & Tippy

Oliver TippyOliver Scott Tippy was born on March 4, 1850 in Williamson County, Illinois near Carterville. He was the son of Mathew Ryburn (2/19/1812 – 2/24/1878) and Margaret Paralee (Campbell) Tippy, pioneers of Illinois and Tennessee.  They had six children, 4 boys and 2 girls:  Emily, James M., William W., Oliver S., Marion C. and Elizabeth Tippy.     

Oliver’s parents, Matthew and Paralee, were married in 1842 and in the 1850 census Matthew and his wife were living in Williamson County, Illinois. There were four children under 6 years of age:  Emily E., James M., William W., and Oliver S. Tippy.  Oliver was less than a year old.  Continue reading