Marion Illinois History Preservation

Boatright, Wilbern 1912-2002

Posted on October 14, 2013 by wcihsOctober 15, 2013

Wilbern Boatright was born on September 12, 1912, in Galatia, Saline County, to Mack Boatright (1872-1951) and Cora Jane Blackburn (1875-1945).

When the 1920 federal census was taken, Wilbern’s parental family was living in Brushy, Saline County, on a farm owned by his parents. His parents were then in their 40’s and his father was farming for a living. Wilbern was aged 7 and had four brothers living at home. Brother Roy was 19 and teaching public school, Lloyd was 17 and a farm laborer, Leman was 14, attending school, and Walter was 2. Continue reading →

Boyt, Bobby D. 1939-2007, Boyt Accounting Service

Posted on October 10, 2013 by wcihsOctober 10, 2013

Bobby D. “Bob” Boyt was born April 2, 1939 in Marion to Jack Boyt and Amy Haesker Barnett. He married Emily Sue Bishop on September 19, 1998.

Bob graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in accounting.

He worked for GTE for 25 years. He was a priesthood member of the Community of Christ Church for 35 years and a member of the Marion Rotary Club and Paradise Alley Players. Continue reading →

Baker, Dr. Alonzo N. 1904-1993

Posted on October 7, 2013 by wcihsApril 18, 2014

Dr. Alonzo Newton Baker, M.D. was born May 28, 1904 at 1310 W. Main in Marion, Illinois to Dr. Virgil Baker and Nora L. Neber. Alonzo was likely named after his grandfather Alonzo P. Baker, civil war soldier and pioneer county doctor who helped influence the formation of early professional Southern Illinois medical care. Continue reading →

Baker, Dr. Virgil A. Baker 1876-1930, Baker and Baker

Posted on October 7, 2013 by wcihsOctober 7, 2013

Dr. Virgil Aaron Baker was born on April 3, 1876, in Grassy Precinct, Williamson County, Illinois. He was the son of Dr. Alonzo P. Baker and Martha Jane Matheney, and brother to Dr. Griffin J. Baker.

The 1880 census, found Virgil at the age of 4 living with his parents in Grassy Precinct of Williamson County where he was born, sharing space with five siblings. The Baker family lived in the very southwestern corner of the county, roughly where the southern tip of Devil’s Kitchen Lake is located now. Continue reading →

Baker, Dr. Griffin J. 1870-1925, Baker and Baker

Posted on October 5, 2013 by wcihsOctober 7, 2013

Dr. Griffin Jonathon Baker was born March 14, 1870, in Grassy Precinct, Williamson County, Illinois, among the spurs of the Ozarks. He is the son of Dr. Alonzo P. Baker and Martha Jane Matheney, and nephew of his namesake, G.J. Baker. Sr., M.D. of Anna, Illinois.

He comes of a family of physicians of good reputation, and widely known for their professional skills. Very naturally he took to “the healing art” as a duck to water, and his education was intended to prepare him for that noble profession. Continue reading →