Category Archives: Black Hawk

Marion Connections to the Black Hawk War

Scates, Walter B. 1808-1886, Circuit Court Judge

Posted on by July 11, 2014

Walter B. ScatesAlthough Walter B. Scates never resided in Marion he served as one of Williamson County’s first circuit court judges that resided over court in the small county clerk’s office on the public square in Marion before the first court house was ever built. He also helped form not only the statutes of Illinois but was responsible for the passage of legislation allowing lawyer’s to have access to their clients in jail.

Walter B. Scates was born on January 18, 1808 in South Boston, Halifax County, Virginia, and when but a child his parents removed to Tennessee, and soon after to Christian County, Kentucky. He was the son of Joseph W. Scates (1775-1842) and Elizabeth Eggleston Bennett (1774-1849). His brothers and sisters were:  William Bennett (1802 – 1882), Harriet Fields (1804 – 1855), Joseph W., Jr. (1805 – 1856), Elizabeth Eggleston (1810 – 1860), Isaac Coleman (1812 – 1854) and John Tyler Scates (1814 – 1888). Continue reading →

Wiley, Oliver H. “Harp” 1807-1877, Trustee, Alderman & Black Hawk War Veteran

Posted on by April 1, 2014

Oliver Harper “Harp” Wiley was born in Cabarrus County, North Carolina November 30, 1807. 

“Harp” Wiley married Matilda Krantz (1808 – 1891), daughter of Thomas Krantz and Elizabeth Kent. Matilda was a teen-aged orphan when she and her sister, Sarah, came from Cheatham County, Tenn. to Franklin County, Illinois with a Sanders family in an oxcart.  Her sister, Sarah married Wiley Berry Chamness (1811-1882), founder of the Chamness settlement, now in the Wildlife Refuge. Continue reading →

Corder, Anderson P. 1811-1891, State Senator, Veteran of Two Wars

Posted on by June 3, 2014

Of the many notable characters who have lived in Marion, Anderson P. Corder, could certainly be claimed as one of them.  Notes taken from the Nannie Gray Parks files at the Williamson County Historical Society says of him, “Many stories are told about Anderson P. Corder; John Gray and Carey E. Wiley knew him well. They said he was a very tall man and dressed well. He wore a “Stove Pipe” hat, a Prince Albert coat with a fancy vest draped with a large gold watch chain. He was considered a wit and smart in a way. Continue reading →

306 E. College St., Historic Home Razed in 1941

Posted on by March 28, 2014

The following article was printed in the Marion Daily Republican on September 15, 1941, and recounts the history of the home located at 306 E. College Street on the occasion of its demolition.

Historic House Being Razed

Two Story Landmark On East College Street Yields To Wrecking Crew

One of Marion’s oldest residences began yielding to a wrecking crew Monday morning when workmen began tearing down the Mrs. Kate Sutherland home at 306 East College Street. The house, built almost ninety years ago, is one of the oldest and most interesting in Marion’s history. Continue reading →

Cunningham, John M. 1812-1873

Posted on by November 12, 2013

 

J.M. Cunningham 1812-1873

J.M. Cunningham 1812-1873

The name of Cunningham comes from the union of two Saxon words, “Koenig,” meaning King, and “Hanie,” meaning home, or literally, Kings Home. The name can be traced back to early British history and historic events as early as 1059. John M. Cunningham was the son of Robert Cunningham, son of Joseph Cunningham and Mary Simerson Cunningham. Continue reading →