Norman, J. Milton, 1870-1945, Carpenter, Merchant & Alderman

Posted on by February 19, 2024
J. Milton Norman
704-N-Van-Buren 1904
704 N Van Buren 1980s
Heyde Hardware Ad 1913

John Milton Norman, who went by Milton, was born August 11, 1870 to Ananias Norman & Eunice Delany Lee. At the time of his birth, the 1870 census revealed that the family was living near Sulphur Springs in what is now the area around Creal Springs. At the time of the census, his father was working as a carpenter and Milton had 6 siblings.

By the 1880 census, Milton was living with his parents in Marion and had 5 siblings.

In July 1895, an unmarried Milton was working as a carpenter and paid Joab Goodall $100 for Lot 5, Block 10 of Joab Goodall’s 1st Addition to Marion where he would go one to build a large two story home at 704 N. Van Buren St.

Continue reading →

How DeYoung Street Got its Name

Posted on by February 19, 2024

It has long been suspected that DeYoung Street got its name from a family, but no DeYoung family has ever been found in census records or directories here in Marion. Marion resident, James Emery, who owns property on DeYoung Street recently found the answer located in an Abstract of Title related to his property.

It seems that on March 25, 1899, Teunis DeYoung (pronounced “tennis”) and his wife Cordelia of South Holland, Illinois, a Dutch suburb of Chicago, contracted with Joab Goodall who then owned the property to buy five parcels of land for the sum of $10,000 amounting to 144 acres. They paid $5,000 down and spread out the remaining $5,000 into six promissory notes at 6% interest to be paid yearly until 1904.

Continue reading →

Hudgens, Hugh, 1882-1969, Merchant, J.P. & Alderman

Posted on by December 30, 2023
Hudgens family
Hudgens & Reid
901 W Maplewood-St

Hugh Hudgens was born in Southern Township of Williamson County on January 29, 1882 to Zachariah Hudgens and Mary Jane Cooksey and was one of 14 children in the family. He attended Marion grade school, Marion High School and a commercial course at Creal Springs College graduating in 1900 according to his obituary.

Hugh married Mary Ann Lilley on July 17, 1903 in Williamson County and in September 1905 paid $150 for a lot at 901 W. Maplewood Street in Marion where they went on to build the home they both would spend the rest of their lives.

Continue reading →

Motsinger, Solomon Thomas 1865-1916, Alderman & Coal Miner

Posted on by December 16, 2023

Solomon Thomas Motsinger, who went by Thomas, was born August 24, 1865 in Crab Orchard, Illinois to Solomon Fisher Motsinger and Mary Ann Caplinger. He was captured in the 1880 census record at the age of 14 living on a farm near Crab Orchard with his parents, Solomon 46 and Mary 39. Siblings present in the home were George F. 12, Minnie O. 11, Charles J. 9, Theodore M. 7, Victoria 5, Elizabeth 2 and Moody age 1. His father was listed as a laborer.

Continue reading →