James D. Long was an early City Marshall, Marion Chief of Police and according his obituary, the first Fire Chief of Marion. He was born on June 17, 1875 in University City, Tennessee to Arthur R. Long and Louise E. Warren.
Five years after James’ birth, the 1880 census found the Long family living in Stewarts, Kentucky. His father, Arthur, was listed as a mechanic. The entire family was, oddly enough, only listed by initials Continue reading
Marion Police Chief Retires After 21 Years on Force
“Twenty one years of other people’s troubles” is how the retiring Marion Police Chief describes his career on the force.
“I’m gonna start on my own life now, but I’m gonna try to keep it straight,” John F. Kelley added with a laugh.
Today was his final day as a policeman. He became Chief in May, 1967. He has been night chief since 1955. Continue reading
This newspaper clipping from 1918 captures the first time that the body of a Williamson County soldier had been returned from foreign soil. It, unfortunately, would not be the last.
Body of Soldier Arrives From England
Dennis L. Kirby, former private in the 113 Sanitary Train, is to be buried with military honors in Marion on Tuesday afternoon. The body was returned from England on Sunday and is held at the Cash Undertaking Parlor pending the funeral. Continue reading
Anyone who has lived a reasonable amount of time will likely agree that there are times when life doesn’t always appear fair. Worse yet, there are times when it appears just downright cruel. Such may be the case for the Jordan family who lost three of their four sons, two to murder and one to an accident. Continue reading
G. W. Ingels, 88, and Phil Johnson, 100-year Old Colored Veteran, Are Survivors In Marion
Memorial Day in Marion in 1937 finds the thinning ranks of Civil War veterans has dwindled to two Union soldiers, one of them a white man who shouldered a gun at the age of 15 years and the other a colored man who at the age of 17 went away to war from a Kentucky plantation with the echo of the slave-driver’s lash and the cries of beaten human beings echoing in his ears. Continue reading