Marion in 1861

By the start of the War Between the States, Marion was an extremely small town compared to what it is today.

The Illinois General Assembly provided Marion a town charter in 1851. Earlier, the legislature provided for a committee to plat out a county seat at the same time Williamson County was separated from Franklin County. Continue reading

Whitacre, Cleta 1914-2006

Cleta Whitacre 1914-2006Cleta Whitacre was born on March 27, 1914, in Herrin, the daughter of Rolla Franklin and Gertrude Delia (Walker) Greer.

She was united in marriage to Thomas Earl Whitacre on December 30, 1933, in a secret ceremony at a Methodist parsonage in Jonesboro, Illinois. The marriage had to be kept secret because in those days it was forbidden for women teachers to marry. Together they shared nearly 37 years of marriage until his death came on May 16, 1970. Continue reading

Stotlar, Warder 1911-1965

Warder Stotlar 1933 Northwestern UnivWarder Stotlar was born in Marion May 9, 1911, the son of Fred Stotlar and Hattie Warder.

In the 1920 census, Warder was 8 years old and living with his parents at 107 E. Marion Street.

He was graduated from Marion High School in 1929 and in the 1930 census, Warder was 18 years old and living with his parents at 105 E. Marion Street. Continue reading