Category Archives: All Marion Content

All content related to Marion Illinois

1950, Doctor Baker’s Wonderful Pocketknife

Posted on by December 9, 2013

During our recent ramble in the field of medical science we have thought now and then of Dr. G.J. Baker, the family doctor of our youth, and his wonderful pocket knife.

“Doc Griff” Baker, who delivered all three of the Felts boys and wrestled them through most of the diseases of childhood plus a siege of typhoid, was Mother’s first cousin. Day or night, rain or shine, he came on foot, carrying a little black bag in his hand and wearing a leather medicine case slung by a strap from his shoulder. Once he arrived everybody felt better. Continue reading →

Goodall, Sarah Ann Gannaway Scates Thorn 1825-1897

Posted on by August 7, 2018

When Sarah Goodall died, her funeral card read: Sarah A. Scates, wife of John Goodall. Born in Virginia August 1, 1825. Died in Marion, April 26, 1897. Aged seventy one Years, eight months, twenty five days. Funeral at the Christian Church, Tuesday, April Twenty-Seventh at One o’clock. Interment at New Cemetery (Old Rose Hill Cemetery).

Not many words for a woman who had traveled twice in ten years from Virginia to Williamson County, Illinois, both times as a new bride. Continue reading →

1954, Paving Machine Invented in Marion, Illinois

Posted on by December 9, 2013

William F.
Merritt Paving Machine
Merritt Paving Machine

Paving Machine Invented in Marion Will Revolutionize the Industry

W.F. “Frankie” Merritt, 428 S. Future Street, Marion, has invented a machine which may revolutionize paving operations in the United States. Merritt, who is chief mechanic for the Regenhardt Construction Company of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, has developed a paving machine which requires no forms, but deposits the fresh concrete directly on the new road, saving approximately ten per cent in the cost of operation, and reducing the number of workers. With a traveling sub-grade machine, the results are practically the same as paving with forms. Continue reading →

Erwin, Milo 1847-1894 alias Mark M. Stanly

Posted on by December 8, 2013

Milo Erwin 1847-1894Milo Erwin was born October 24, 1847 near the village of Crab Orchard, six miles east of Marion. This area had been settled by people from North Carolina, among them a Revolutionary War ancestor of Milo Erwin.

Milo Erwin was the son of Robert P. and Eliza (Furlong) Erwin. Robert P. and his brother-in-law, James M. Furlong, built a steam mill for both grist and lumber at Crab Orchard in 1854; this was the county’s second mill. It was in the center of town and had no doors. Folks who had no desire to pay for grist found it easy to take what they wanted at night; thus the village was nick-named “Steal Easy.” Continue reading →