Clara Strautz Boatright was born August 28, 1895 in Cairo, Illinois, to Fredrick and Catherine Casper Strautz. She attended Cairo public schools and St. Joseph’s Academy, continuing her education at Jacksonville, Normal, and LaSalle University.
She came to Marion from E. St. Louis to teach at Brown’s Business College from 1914 to 1933 (with six years out to become mother and homemaker). Clara then became principal from 1933 to 1936 when she resigned to become a private tutor. Continue reading
Robert Wilson Boatright was born in Harco, Illinois in Saline County, January 19, 1889, the son of Alexander Scott Boatright (1862-1906) and Lucy Emeline Carr (1863-1940).
In the 1900 census, Robert was 11 and living with his parental family on a farm in Brushy Township in Saline County. Robert had three siblings, Clyde 15, Maude 14 and Roma aged 1. Continue reading
In 1850, the Cline family packed up and moved From Allen County, Kentucky to Williamson County, settling in Crab Orchard Township east of Marion, Illinois. Albert Cline’s father was Thomas Jefferson Cline, who followed farming and died in 1897. His mother’s name was Sarilda Jane Absher, known to many Marion citizens in her days as “Grandma Cline”. Continue reading
Harry Willis Bracy was born in Marion on September 16, 1887, the son of Abner E. Bracy and Florence Crain. His father, who was a Marion merchant for many years, died in 1935 and his mother died in 1961.
In the 1900 census, Harry, aged 12, was living with his parental family in their home at 604 S. Market Street. His father was a merchant that operated a retail store on the square. His siblings were, Charles Bracy aged 14, Reba 10, Leon 8 and Ralph 4. Continue reading
Donald Houston Bethel was born November 12, 1919, in Ozark, Illinois, in Johnson County, the son of Jewell Guy Bethel Sr. (1896-1970) and Elma Mae Houston (1900-1991).
Although his obituary states that he was born in Ozark, Illinois only one month after his birth he and his parents were listed in the 1920 census as living at Harrisburg in Saline County. Continue reading