Due to a law that went into effect in the fall of 1877 requiring births and deaths to be recorded, for the first time, we are given a glimpse of exactly what kind of things killed people back in that time frame. The following data was extracted from figures released by the Egyptian Press on January 9, 1879. Continue reading
Category Archives: All Marion Content
From the time I first compiled an article on the formation of the Marion Elks Lodge #800 in Marion a couple of years ago, I was intrigued with the statement that they were occupying the old Dunaway Opera House. The Dunaway building was located where the old F.W. Woolworth building is located in the 600 block on the west side of the public square. Since then, I have kept my eyes open for clues as to some history on the building and finally found its origins. Continue reading
The following post was extracted from a Marion Living magazine article published in December 2005 in which Mayor Robert Butler was strolling around the public square with Bernard Paul and reminiscing about how the square used to be and what businesses were located where. Continue reading
William R. Hall, the 1875 Mayor of Marion, was born in Gallatin County, Illinois to John E. Hall (1814-1856) and Mary Hart Crenshaw (1818-1912) in 1844. Mary was the daughter of John Hart Crenshaw (1797–1871), owner of the old slave house located near Equality, Illinois and licensed overseer of salt production for the area. Continue reading
Hartwell Hendrickson, Civil War veteran, clerk of the circuit court, alderman, postmaster and native of the county was born December 2, 1848, the son of Jesse Hendrickson (1822-1898) and Martha Ann Lewis (1823-1895), both natives of Tennessee. Jesse and Martha came to Franklin County, Illinois about 1830 where he served for many years as a Methodist preacher. Continue reading