Herbert R. Ashley, honored many times in Marion for his work with youth, was pronounced dead on arrival at Marion Memorial Hospital at 4:05 a.m. on August 25, 1971 after a heart attack.
Mr. Ashley, 71, of 304 S. Third St. was a Boy Scout leader for more than 40 years. He received the Silver Beaver award in 1945, the highest award to a scout leader. He also received the Scoutmasters Key and 40 year scout pin.
Continue readingMany Famous Persons Had Stopped at Hotel which was Constructed in 1897
Among those driven from offices and business houses by the fire was George H. Goodall, who erected the hotel building in 1897, and whose name appeared in large brick letters on the front of the building. Altho no longer owner of the building, Mr. Goodall for many years had occupied an office on the basement floor.
The Goodall Hotel which for many years was the principal hotel in the vicinity had an interesting history. W.H. Crawford who from 1904 to 1928 was clerk in the hotel recalled that it had entertained numerous celebrities. Among them were William Jennings Bryan, Sam Jones the evangelist, Admiral Richmond P. Hobson of U.S. Navy fame, F.S. Peabody, one time president of the Peabody Coal Company, former Illinois Governor Richard P. Yates, Roald Amundsen, the artic explorer, Bob Fitzsimmons, Jess Williard, both at different times the world’s heavyweight champions, and many others.
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Robert Joseph Yearack, a.k.a. as Bobby Joe or Bob, was born in Marion on July 22, 1928 to Frank Yearack and Rita Watson. Just a couple of years after his birth, in the 1930 federal census, his father Frank 29 and mother Rita 25 were living in a rental home at 707 N. McLaren Street in Marion paying $8 per month in rent. His father was working as a machine man for a coal mine. The parents had two sons in the home, Wayne 6 and Robert J. aged 1.
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Edward Lawrence Corder was born in Crab Orchard Township on September 20, 1904, to Jeremiah (Jerry) M. Corder and Mary Etta Ferrell. When the 1910 federal census was taken the family was found living on a farm on Marion Road in Crab Orchard Township which they owned free of mortgage. Jerry 37 and Mary Etta 36 reported that they had birthed 7 children and 6 of them were living in the home at the time. The children in the home were Charles 14, Ray 9, Vollie 7, Lawrence 5, Troy 3 and James 1.
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William Stucker “Bill” Armstrong was born December 6, 1918 in Marion to William Armstrong, an English immigrant and Maggie Mae Willis. When Bill was only 1 year old, the 1920 census located his family living at 608 N. Highland Street in Marion with his 44 year old father, William, working as a coal miner. His 36 year old mother, Maggie had 3 children living in the home, Audrey 17, Iva 13 and William aged 1.
When the 1930 census was taken, the family was still living in their home on Highland Street in Marion and Bill’s father was still working as a coal mine loader. 11 year old Bill was the only child then listed in the household but his 73 year old, widowed, Grandmother Mary Willis was living with the family. They valued their home which they owned at $1,000.
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