Virgil Lee Love was born in Sturgis, Kentucky to William R. Love and Maggie Myrtle Wilson on October 27, 1894. Virgil’s father, William, was a coal miner and likely followed work in the coal fields from Kentucky to Southern Illinois. The first census record they were found in was in 1910 where the family was located living in a rental home in Gaskins City, Illinois in Harrisburg Township, Saline County. 45 year old William and 41 year old Maggie during this census indicated that they had birthed 8 children, but only 3 of them lived and all were present in their home. The children were John W. 24, Arthur W. 20 and Virgil L. aged 15. Sons, John W. and Arthur W. we’re working alongside their father by working as coal miners to supplement the family income.
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It is known that the Samuel Aikman family were early land owners in Williamson County and had purchased hundreds of acres in the land now roughly distributed from S. Court Street in the east and the interstate in the west and bounded N and S roughly by W. Main Street and Hendrickson.
In January of 1853, one of Samuel Aikman’s sons, James Aikman, sold a piece of 40 acre property identified as the NW quarter of the NE Quarter of Section 24, Township 9, Range 2 to a P.H. Lang. Lang held on to the property for decades but when unable to satisfy a debt, the property was sold at a Sheriff’s sale and ended up in the hands of Robert & Joan Crotfer in June of 1881. Only days later, Crotfer sold the property to William W. & Annice Clemons
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Louis Edgar Meneese, who went by Edgar, was born in Pulley’s Mill on May 15, 1883 to Isaac Lunsford Meneese and Susan Elmira Meneese. When the 1900 federal census was taken, the family was living in Southern Township in Williamson County on a farm that they owned free of mortgage. Isaac 50 and Susan 47 had two sons living in the home, Edgar 17 and Floyd aged 7.
Continue readingWillis H. Hendrickson was born in Marion, Illinois to Hartwell Hendrickson and Nannie Allen on October 9, 1874. His family came from two pioneering families. His father, Hartwell, was an early mercantile businessman and livestock dealer, served as circuit clerk in 1884 and was a veteran of the Civil War serving in Co. E of the 60th Illinois Infantry and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic veterans’ group. His mother, Nannie Allen, was noted to be the first baby girl born in Marion and was the daughter of Willis Allen. He was elected to the Illinois legislature in 1837, served as state senator in 1847 and was a congressman in 1850 and 1952, later serving as Williamson County State’s Attorney and also as a circuit judge up to his death.
Continue readingElva Ray Jones was born in Johnston City, Illinois on December 20, 1894 to Willis Jones & Margaret Mifflin. When the 1900 federal census was taken, his 39 year old father and 34 year old mother were farming on a rented farm in Lake Creek Township. Elva 5, was one of six children living in the home. His mother reported that she had given birth to 9 children but only six were living.
By the 1910 census, his father had moved into Johnston City proper and purchased a home at 218 Hendricks Street which they owned free of mortgage. His mother, Margaret had died and his father, Willis 49, had remarried to an older female named Jennie who was then 56. Willis was working to support the family as a common laborer. 15 year old Elva had already taken on a job working as a newspaper printer under the tutelage of his uncle, R.W. Jones, editor of the Johnston City Progress newspaper. Elva graduated from Marion Township High School in 1913.
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