Cox, Owen J. 1902-1975

Owen J Cox 1902-1975Owen J. Cox was born at Carbon Hill, Illinois on April 18, 1902, the son of James E. Cox and Maude Woodley. Coming to Marion as a child with his parents, most of his life had been spent in this community where he became a prominent figure.

Owen was married at Union City, Tennessee on April 25, 1920 to Elizabeth L. Norman

After working in the coal mines early in his life and spending several years in the advertising department of the Marion Daily Republican Continue reading

Cox, Clarence C. 1893-1937

Clarence Cox 1893-1937Clarence C. Cox was born October 31, 1893 in Grassy Precinct, the son of Thomas A. Cox and Nancy Catherine Rendleman and moved to Marion with his parents when eight years old.

Clarence Cox was always active in athletics. He graduated from the Marion Township High School in 1913 and while in high school captained both the championship track team and football team. Continue reading

1960, The Cold Case Murder of Bunice Tyner

Bunice Tyner was a Marion businessman who owned a handful of taverns in Marion and the surrounding area from 1941 up to his murder in 1960. Tyner also owned Wimpey’s Café at 106 S. Court Street, but the business was actually operated by his wife, Louina. The amusements in local taverns in those days, popular since WWII, were pinball and jukebox machines. Also, slot machines, which were technically illegal, but often tolerated under the right conditions. Continue reading

Wimpey’s Cafe 1953-1966

Wimpey’s Café was a converted trolley car diner that was located at 106 S. Court, squeezed into a small lot between the Marion Motel Courts and a corner gas station located at the intersection of W. Main and S. Court Streets. It was established by Bunice Tyner in 1953. Tyner also operated numerous taverns in Marion and the surrounding area since 1941. Continue reading

1974, Marion News in Brief

Annexations Big 1974 Marion Story

Marion may have overreached in its last effort, but 1974 was still a big year in annexations pushing the city limits outward.

About 125 residents in an area westward from Interstate 57 to and including the Boswell Addition voted 30 to 5 on July 23 to be annexed into the city.

A 4.5 acre subdivision in which 10 homes will be built in Moore Park west of the Marion limits was annexed into the city on September 23. Continue reading