Robertson, Martin W. 1839-1906, Merchant and Trustee, 403 E. Main St.

Martin Wiley Robertson, Marion Trustee and merchant, was the son of Henry Robertson (1775-1845) of Nashville Tennessee and Mary Spiller (1798-1853) of Virginia by way of Tennessee. Mother, Mary, was the daughter of William Spiller and Winifred Benson.

Martin’s father, Henry Robertson, came to this part of Illinois, about 1818, returned to Tennessee, then came back in 1823, and settled three and a half miles northwest of Marion, filing his first land claim in 1836, where he farmed successfully until his death in 1845. Henry bought one of the original lots in Marion when the land for the town went up for sale. Continue reading

Patterson, Evelyn M. 1920-2008

Evelyn M. Patterson, a teacher for 53 years, 43 of which were in Marion, was born October 10, 1920, in Keokuk, Iowa, the only child of Thomas Chester Patterson and Bessie A. McCoy.

Her family was located in the 1930 census living in Hannibal, Missouri. They were renting a home at 1319 Mark Twain Avenue for $30 per month. Evelyn’s parents were both college educated and in this census, her mother, Bessie 36, was teaching at a business college. Her father, Thomas 39, was a drug salesman.  Evelyn was nine years old. Continue reading

Rodd, Harry R. 1912-1987, Marion Mayor 1947-1951

Harry R. Rodd was born August 15, 1912 in DuQuoin to Roy Edgar Rodd (1880-1968) and Lela May Calvert (1886-1974). Harry’s father, Roy, was born on a farm in Williamson County in 1880 in the now defunct Western precinct that we know today as Blairsville Township in the northwest corner of the county. He spent most of his life living in Marion and worked as an insurance salesman. Continue reading

1950, The Murder of Paul Rametta

Scene of Rametta murder in Dec 1950Paul Rametta Shot Down By Luther Frey, Marion Daily Republican, Dec. 8, 1950

A gun duel which blazed briefly across North Court Street early Thursday evening (Dec. 7) left one man dead as his slayer calmly telephoned police. The slain man was Paul Rametta, Marion truck operator.

Held in the county jail Friday pending a coroner’s investigation of the shooting was Luther Frey, 31, of Marion, ex-convict. Continue reading

Pillow, Earl H. 1889-1918, WWI Casualty in France

Earl H. Pillow 1889-1918Earl Herschel Pillow was born in Shawneetown, Illinois, June 1, 1889. He came to Marion in early boyhood with his parents, Judge and Mrs. George W. Pillow. His education was gained in the public and high schools of the city, graduating from Marion High School in the Class of 1906. He graduated from a business course in Brown’s Business College in 1912.

He was an employee of the Old Ben Mining Company at West Frankfort for six years and was chief clerk for the company when, in answer to his country’s call, he entered the army in April, 1918. On April 29, 1918, he left Marion for Camp Dix, and after eight days there sailed for France. Continue reading