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
Category Archives: Government
Marion was in disbelief on February 19th, 1973, when Mary Ann Damico came home from school and found her 50 year old paraplegic mother, Martha Damico, senselessly murdered in their home at 825 Morgan Drive. Martha, who was confined to a wheel chair, had been murdered that morning shortly after her daughter left for school by Cynthia “Cindy” Barnes, 17, whose mother lived not far away at 840 Morgan Drive. 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
In 1927, when Illinois State Highway 37 was in the planning stages, it was recommended that the route pass through Marion on Court Street. However, as this article from the Daily Republican indicates, the more favorable route preferred by Marion citizens and the city council would have been South Market, straight through the heart of the downtown business district at the time. Fortunately for us, that never happened and Court Street was ultimately chosen and built in the early 1930’s. Continue reading
No Buildings Empty on the Square as City, Businesses Invest Millions in Downtown Redevelopment
No vacancies.
That’s the way it is for business buildings on the public square in Marion.
And that’s the way it is despite the opening of a new shopping center in Marion.
Merchants have spent more than $1 million for improvements in the downtown area, according to Milt Witt, Executive Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. Continue reading