Category Archives: People

Citizens of Marion

Davis, Martin K. 1843-1936, Medal of Honor Recipient

Posted on by December 24, 2013

Medal of Honor 1862According to available records, Martin K. Davis was born in Marion, Illinois on March 12, 1843. It is believed that Davis was orphaned at an early age. At age 19, he joined the 116th Illinois Infantry in August 1862 at Stonington, Christian Co., Illinois as a Private.

On May 22, 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant ordered an assault on the Confederate heights at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The plan called for a storming party of volunteers to build a bridge across a moat and plant scaling ladders against the enemy embankment in advance of the main attack. Continue reading →

Grant, Wendell L. 1893-1980, School Principal and WWI Vet

Posted on by December 20, 2013

Wendell Leon Grant was born in Lake Creek Township in Williamson County, on January 26, 1893 to farmer Elijah Lodge Grant (1863-1943) and Sarah Ella O’Neal Grant (1867-1961). Leon Grant spent 54 years of his lengthy life in public service to his community and to his country serving in WWI and also as teacher and principle of the Washington School and principle of the Marion Junior High School. Continue reading →

Rodd, Dee L. 1921-1980, DFC Recipient, Veteran of WWII and Korea

Posted on by December 17, 2013

Dee L Rodd 1921-1980Dee Larue Rodd, who resided at 1904 W. Warren Street in Marion, was born September 17, 1921 in Cambria, Illinois to the late Leonard Rodd and Kate Lipe Rodd.

A graduate of Marion High School in the Class of 1939, he attended Southern Illinois University from 1939-1942 and was graduated from the U.S. Naval Flight School in late 1942.

He was married October 11, 1943 to the former Ruth Anne Bowman in St. Louis, Missouri. Ruth was born October 7, 1925 to Virgil W. Bowman and Gladys Butts.

Rodd served in World War II and the Korean War as a combat pilot. A squadron leader, he flew 50 missions over Korea. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals, among several decorations. He left the Navy with the rank of Commander. Continue reading →

1974, The Cold Case Murder of Dr. Donald Ripley

Posted on by December 17, 2013

Dr. Donald Ripley
Dr. Ripley Murder
Dr. Ripley Murder
Dr. Ripley Murder

On December 4, 1974, Dr. Ripley’s chiropractic office at 1825 W. Main Street was full of patients awaiting treatment. At 9:30, an hour after the office should have opened, an unanswered telephone prompted one of the patients to answer it. Upon opening a hallway door he discovered the body of Dr. Donald Ripley. Ripley had been shot seven times with a .45 caliber hand gun. Most of the efforts to uncover his murderer centered around a mysterious, well-dressed black man, but his killer was never found and remains one of Marion’s cold cases to this day.  Continue reading →