1875, News Clippings, January thru July

1875, was a rough year for this county. There was an influx in the first phase of the Ku Klux Klan formed in the post-Civil War reconstruction period which saw notices being served on numerous locals telling them they must leave the county or face consequences. This year also saw the murders and resulting trials of a number of county citizens related to the culmination of the “Bloody Vendetta” era. Continue reading

American Creosote Company

Although few people have any knowledge of this Marion company anymore, the American Creosote Company, also known as American Creosoting Co., appears to have thrived in Marion for about five decades. The company preserved railroad ties with creosote, a thriving business in the day when rail was still king. According to an article published in the Carbondale Egyptian Press in February of 1907, a Mr. E.P. Garrett who, for the previous three years, had been superintendent of the Ayer & Lord Tie Co. of that city had taken a similar position with American Creosote in Marion. The Marion plant was said to have been under construction and was expected to be completed and operating in several months, probably by the middle of summer. Continue reading

McCormick, Raymond L. 1921-2014, WWII Vet, City Commissioner

Raymond L. McCormick, former Marion City Commissioner, WWII veteran and civic leader, was born on Tuesday, August 2, 1921, in Marion, the son of Ray and Ora (Cothran) McCormick, being one of five children. A Marion directory places the family in a home at 1204 E. Parham Street in 1928. Continue reading

1964, Annexation of Five Acres Sought

Annexation of Five Acres Sought by Marion Council

Elections on annexation of five territories to Marion were asked by the city council Monday.

The requests will be filed in Williamson County Circuit Court and presiding Judge John Clayton will set an election day. People will vote separately in each territory. Territories are:

A strip of 300 feet on either side of North State Street from the city limits at Patrick Street to the north property lines of William Murphy and Glenn Peugh, 1,206 feet past the “Red Row” curve, in northeast Marion. Continue reading