Willis Aikman was born near Washington, Davies County, Indiana, on March 14, 1833. He was a son of Samuel Aikman and Henrietta Coleman and came with his parents to Edgar County, Illinois, in 1835, and to Marion in 1837 with a family of six boys and three girls.
His father, Samuel, invested his money in Marion real estate until he owned a strip one-half mile wide by a mile and a half long, consisting of 640 acres, which he bought off the Government at $1.25 an acre. Continue reading
Monroe, Illinois? Never heard of it? Well, there is a good reason. For some reason, Monroe got lost in the dustbin of history along with other things that never happened. In 1938, Mrs. Nannie Gray Parks, based on a tip by Mr. Edward M. Stotlar, researched records at the Franklin County courthouse in Benton, Illinois. Mrs. Parks discovered that the county surveyor in 1837 had laid out a town to be known as Monroe. Continue reading
The following is taken from “Thy People Shall Be My People or Elizabeth Ann and the Roberts Clan” by Daisy Roberts Malone. These excerpts were written by Elizabeth Ann Chadwell who was born 10 May 1825, the daughter of John Shepherd and Sarah Clark. She married William Rufus Roberts 18 Aug 1841 and after his death married Charles W. Chadwell 9 Nov 1849, both marriages in Williamson Co., Illinois. Elizabeth Ann died 13 May 1916 and is buried in Zion Cemetery, Corinth, Illinois. Continue reading
Robert E. McKinney was born December 26, 1902 in Crainville, Illinois. McKinney who was active in school affairs and followed in his father’s footsteps as County Superintendent of Williamson County schools spent 44 years in teaching and supervising duties. Continue reading
Firemen From Area Fight Fire
Fire this morning caused extensive damage to the Eagles Hall building, 612 ½ N. Market, but an intensive firefighting effort prevented the blaze from spreading.
Carl Armes, Eagles secretary, estimated the damage at about $40,000. Continue reading