Though technically not a Marion citizen, it would be remiss not to recount the life of John A. Logan. He was a Williamson County Circuit Clerk, prosecuting attorney, practicing lawyer in the County courthouse and an influential civil war military leader and political figure in the Democratic party of this county for decades and therefore shaped the course of Marion, Illinois and Williamson County history. Continue reading
Category Archives: Civil
John A. Logan’s Speech Aug 19, 1861
Barely four months after a party of 10 or 15 had gotten together in a Marion, Illinois saloon in 1861 and organized a meeting calling for the secession of Williamson County from the Union. General John A. Logan rode into town and addressed an explosive crowd on the square in a two-hour speech from the bed of a wagon on the Marion Square. Continue reading
For a while the Illinois Department of Transportation thought the concrete bridge on Old Creal Springs Road at Crab Orchard Creek was historic because of its design.
But the design isn’t the only thing historic about that bridge site. Continue reading
James D. McCown came with his parents from Robinson County, Tennessee in the late 1830’s to Williamson County. He was born on February 7, 1824 and followed his father’s trade of farming like most in those days. Continue reading
Editor’s note: In the summer of 2012, I did some genealogy on the family of Mona (Blankenship) Carter, a friend of mine. When I ran across James McKinney and his story, I was very moved by the experience that he must have endured. Then it occurred to me that, in a way, it was representative of the hardships that a number of our Marion ancestors endured. That anyone could endure hardships like this in their lives and come out even reasonably normal is truly a tribute to the pioneer spirit. Continue reading
