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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Cocke, Ira, 1879-1966, Carpenter & Alderman

Posted on by May 4, 2024

Ira Cocke was born in Bainbridge, Illinois west of Marion on October 18, 1879 to David B. Cocke and Mary Hannah White. This is also where the 1880 federal census located his family. His 30 year old father, David was 30 and his mother Mary was 29. The parental couple were farm workers and had 3 children in the census, John 6, Robert 3 and infant Ira at 8 months of age.

On May 16, 1898, Ira married Miriam Etta Kimmel in Franklin County at the age of 19. Her parents were Joseph Priestly Kimmel and Mary Ann Kimmel. When the 1900 census was taken, the young couple were living in Tate Township in Saline County and had no children yet. They were living in a home that they owned free of mortgage and Ira was working as a sawmill laborer.

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Kimmel, Jerome, 1873-1957, Miner & Alderman

Posted on by May 3, 2024
Jerome Kimmel (1873-1957)
Margaret Frances Tate Kimmel (1881-1966)

According to his Social Security death record, Jerome Kimmel was born near Creal Springs on November 13, 1873 to Joseph Priestly and Mary Ann Kimmel. By the time the 1880 census was taken, the farming family was living in Union County. The father Joseph was 27 and mother Mary was 24. They had 4 children living in the home, Jerome 6, Oscar 4, Jo Ann 2 and Etta at 10 months of age.

When the 1900 census was taken, 26 year old Jerome was working as a salesman and living as a solitary boarder in the home of George & Kate McMinn and their four children at 1036 N. Leonard Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Norman, Curtis M., 1878-1945, Coal Miner & Alderman

Posted on by April 27, 2024

Curtis Marion Norman was born on May 17, 1878 in Crab Orchard Township to Francis Marion Norman and Samantha Edwards. F.M. Norman was a Civil War veteran and part of the early families to settle Williamson County. The 1880 federal census located farmer F.M. 54 and Samantha 27 along with children William D. 20, James 18, Cynthia 13 and Curtis aged 2 living in Crab Orchard Township. William was working as a farm worker and James was working as a store clerk. Their father Francis, was on his second much younger wife, having originally married Martha Whitlock in 1845 and then remarrying to Samantha Edwards in 1873. Curtis’s father, F.M., died on July 31, 1897.

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