In the depression and into the 1940’s various Work Progress Administration (WPA) projects were activated by the federal government to put people to work. There were new roads built, state park improvements, sewing rooms, etc. One of those projects was an authorship in which local authors documented local housing, recreation, businesses, churches, etc. One of those projects was the Illinois Writers Project based out of Chicago. I ran across a series of articles written in 1941 specifically about the black community of Marion under the general heading of “The Negro in Illinois.” I present these articles just as written in 1941.
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Fabian Alvis Nance was born on March 10, 1861 in Mayfield, Kentucky to William Peyton Nance and Martha Ann Eaker. According to the book “Historical Souvenir of Williamson County” published in 1905, one article stated that William P. Nance was a minister with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and moved from Kentucky to Jackson County, Illinois in 1867 and moved to Williamson County in 1869. Another historical source in regard to the M.E. Church, South in Marion stated, “In 1870, Reverend W. P. Nance came as pastor, and through his untiring efforts and energy, the church purchased for $1 a lot on the southeast corner of Jefferson and Liberty Streets”, thus helping kick start the Marion M.E. churches beginnings.
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Aerial photo taken 11/30/1934 by the Air Force out of Scott Field, North is on the left side. To view full size, right click and select “Open image in new tab” or download to your computer.
Joseph Henry Moss was born in Jacksonville, Illinois on October 6, 1855. He attained his education in the public schools of that city and attended Normal Illinois University at Normal, Illinois. In the 1870 federal census, Joseph was 16 years old and found living in the home of Sarah A. Smith, 35 along with his brother James R. Moss aged 18 in Lovington, Moultrie County, Illinois.
Continue readingEarnest Holman Moulton was born September 29, 1877 to Henry T. Moulton and Sarah E. Robertson in Southern Township south of Marion. He was reared in Williamson County and attended school in Creal Springs. In the 1880 census, the Moulton family was still living on a farm in Southern Township. His father was 26 and his mother was 28 and working as farmers. Earnest was 2 and had a sister named Daisy aged 1.
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