Robertson, Martin W. 1839-1906, Merchant and Trustee, 403 E. Main St.

Martin Wiley Robertson, Marion Trustee and merchant, was the son of Henry Robertson (1775-1845) of Nashville Tennessee and Mary Spiller (1798-1853) of Virginia by way of Tennessee. Mother, Mary, was the daughter of William Spiller and Winifred Benson.

Martin’s father, Henry Robertson, came to this part of Illinois, about 1818, returned to Tennessee, then came back in 1823, and settled three and a half miles northwest of Marion, filing his first land claim in 1836, where he farmed successfully until his death in 1845. Henry bought one of the original lots in Marion when the land for the town went up for sale. Continue reading

1969, Marion News in Brief

Joan Crawford Sept 20 1969Marion Still Growing, A Quiet 1969

Continuing growth marked a quiet 1969 in Marion.

There were no murders, no violent fatalities, no disasters or catastrophes within the city in the year, not even a flood such as plagued it in previous years.

Growth continued despite voter opposition to increased taxes for two facets of city progress.

Marion Unit Two residents voted 2,140 to 1919 against a $700,000 bond issued to build a new grade school and a 35 cent increase in the education tax rate on March 15. Continue reading

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