Cunningham, Cline V., 1873-1948, Druggist & Commissioner

Posted on by May 31, 2024

Cline Vancleve Cunningham was born either in or near Crab Orchard village on December 27, 1873 to James T. Cunningham and Laura Hendrickson. His father, James T., was born in Mississippi and after the death of his father was brought to Williamson County by his mother settling in the Attila area of the county. James T. would go on later to serve as Captain of the 60th Regiment of Company E in the Union Army during the Civil War. The family also claimed to be related to Mary Cunningham Logan, wife of General John A. Logan.

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Holland, James W., 1866-1946, Undertaker & Commissioner

Posted on by May 30, 2024

According to James Winslow Holland’s Illinois death record, he was born in Carbondale, Illinois on November 23, 1866 to Jerome Bryce Holland and Mary Jane Calvert. By the time the 1870 census was taken, the parental family unit of Jerome 32 and Janie 25 were living in West Marion Township and using Marion as their post office. Children in the home were Jessie 5, James W. 3, Sarah 1 and Florence aged 3 months. Jerome was a farmer.

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Monroe, Otley A., 1890-1950, Businessman and Alderman

Posted on by May 15, 2024

Otley Armond Monroe was born in Cottage Home, Grassy Township, on November 1, 1890 to William S. Monroe and Rachel Gentry. When the 1900 federal census was taken the parental farming family were located in Grassy Township. Father, William S. was 38 years old while the mother, Rachel was 42. Rachel recorded that she had birthed 6 children and that all 6 were still living. The children in the home at that time were Martin G. 15 and Charles 12, both farm laborers, Otley 7, Ralph 5, Clara 4 and Earl 1. The family owned the farm they lived on mortgage free.

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Thomas, Robert O., 1871-1959, Glass Businessman and Alderman

Posted on by May 9, 2024
918 W. Union St. Marion, Illinois, ca 1980
918 W. Union St. Marion, Illinois, ca 2022

Although no obituary was located for Robert, Robert Otto Thomas was born in Simpson, Illinois in the extreme NE corner of Johnson County on September 9, 1871 to George Washington Thomas and Mary Jane Simpson. By the time the 1880 federal census was taken the Thomas family had relocated to New Burnside, Illinois not very far from Simpson. The farming family consisted of the father George W. 58, the mother Mary J. 53, son John A. Logan 15 and Robert O. aged 9. Older brother to Robert, John A.L. was working as a farm laborer.

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Corley, Alta C., 1882-1952, Mine Bookkeeper & Alderman

Posted on by May 8, 2024

Alta Cecil Corley, often referred to as “A.C.” or” Altie”, was born near New Denison, Illinois ESE of Marion on June 17, 1882 the son of Rolla Corley and Sadie Burnett. When the 1900 federal census was taken the farming family was located near New Denison with the 41 year old father, Rolla, and 38 year old mother Sadie. There were two children in the family, their son Alta C., a 17 year old farm laborer, and Elsie C. their 10 year old daughter. Alta was educated in rural county schools and attended Crab Orchard Academy headed by Professor J.W. Turner which evidently amounted to about 2 more years of education.

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