Category Archives: Mexican/American

Marion Connections to the Mexican/American War

1875, Gunfight on the Marion Public Square

Posted on by December 18, 2013

James Bishop Morray was born in Kentucky in 1821. Due to the early deaths of his mother and father, he was raised by an uncle, William Bishop, in Pope County, Illinois. While still a young man he returned to his home state of Kentucky to work for William Wyatt, eventually marrying his daughter, Izzarilda Wyatt in 1842.

In 1844, the Morray and Wyatt families moved to Illinois, purchasing several parcels of land in Creal Springs and Stonefort Townships. During the 1860’s and 1870’s James became the largest landowner in Johnson County, eventually owning thousands of acres in Johnson and Williamson Counties. 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 →

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 →

Logan, John A. 1826-1886

Posted on by July 5, 2015

Gen John A. Logan ca 1863
Gen John A. Logan ca 1864
Gen John A. Logan ca 1865
Gen John A. Logan ca 1865
Gen John A. Logan ca 1876

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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 →