1915, Old Landmark Moved Off the Library Site

The last section of the Grandma Cline house on South Market Street was removed today leaving a lot vacant that has not been so in 60 years or more. Isaac Campbell, grandfather of City Clerk George C. Campbell erected this dwelling in the summer of 1854 at a time when the number of houses all told in Marion did not exceed 50.

At this time only three houses can now be recalled besides this one that still stand in Marion, one at 310 W. White Street occupied by W.E. Jordon, the house mover who is now taking the Cline house from its old site. William Calvert built the house about the same time the Cline house was built. It stood on the site occupied now by the Duty Drug store and was one and a half story frame. It was moved to its present location some 15 or 20 years ago.

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Holland, Romulus D. 1847-1919, Merchant & Alderman

Romulus D. Holland was born in Marion County, West Virginia on October 2, 1847, the son of Jacob Holland and Emily Tarlton, both natives of W. Virginia as well. The mother died in 1856 and the next year the father moved to Jackson County, Illinois. In 1859, he moved to Williamson County and followed brick making to supply the bricks for the early buildings in the county built in the early 1860’s. About 1870, he moved to Harrisburg where he died on July 5, 1875.

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Blankenship, Thomas G. 1852-1917, Merchant & Alderman

Thomas Gilbert Blankenship was born April 7, 1852 in Robertson County, Tennessee, the son of William Harvey Blankenship and Elizabeth Susan Hudgens. The 1860 federal census found the 8-year-old Thomas living with his parents and 5 siblings in District 1 of Cheatham County, Tennessee, his father was listed as a carpenter by trade.

By the time the 1870 census was taken the family had moved to Williamson County and were living in Township 10, Range 2 or what is now Southern Township near Pulley’s Mill. Thomas was 18 and had 7 siblings. His father was listed as a farmer and claimed a real estate value of $280 with a personal estate of $200.

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Casey, Levi B., Dr. 1863-1923 Physician & Alderman

Dr. Levi Burnside Casey was born in Johnson County on March 22, 1863, just over the Williamson County line south of Creal Springs to Capt. Levi B. Casey who entered the Civil War as a 2nd Lt. in Company D, 31st Illinois infantry. After the death of his Company Captain at the battle of Fort Donelson, he was promoted to Captain but was unfortunately killed in action at the Battle of Vicksburg.

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Campbell, James A. 1859-1946, Merchant & Alderman

James Arthur Campbell was born in the country, three miles east of Marion on December 29, 1859. His parents were Oliver Gains Campbell and Sidney S. Stewart. James A. was raised on the farm in the summer and received what education he could at schools in the winter completing 8th grade.

He was married to Miss Samantha Scurlock, daughter of Allen B. Scurlock and Jane E. Williford of Marion on July 7, 1878. The fruit of this union was five daughters, four of whom survived to maturity.

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